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MEMOIR 



OF 



REV. SEYMOUR W. ADAMS, D.D. 

own 



LATE PASTOR OF 



THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 



CLEVELAND, OHIO 



PUBLISHED IN PURSUANCE OF A REQUEST OF THE CHURCH. 

J. P. BISHOP, J. M. HOTT AND W. T. SMITH, 

COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 



EDITED BY J. P. BISHOP. 



CLEVELAND, OHIO: 

PRINTED BY FAIRBANKS, BENEDICT & CO., HERALD OFFICE 

1 8 6 6 . 



3* 



x- 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1SGH, hy 

J. P. BISHOP, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United Spates 

for the Northern District of Ohio. 



Exchange 

West. Res. Hi«t. Soc. 

1915 



CONTENTS. 

Introductory Remarks, , 5 

I. 

Early Writings— Fixed Principles — Call and Accept- 
ance of Pastorate at Cleyeland — Sermon, 9 

II. 

Subjects of Sermons — Extracts from Sermons before 
the Maternal Association and to the Young — Afflic- 
tions of the Pastor — Church Letter of Sympathy, . . 53 

III. 

Sermon on Removal from House of Worship on Sen- 
eca street, giving History of the Church, 69 

IV. 

The Christian Patriot — Service in the Christian Com- 
mission — Narrative of W. W. Weight, 105 

V. 

Closing Labors — Last Sermon — Death, 115 

VI. 

Funeral Services — Addresses otRev. Dr. Goodrich and 
others — Church Action and Actfon of City Pastors, . 133 

VII. 

Obituary Notices — Extract from Dr. Hawks' Sermon 
— Letter of Dr. Adams — Wife's Testimonial, 151 

VIII. 

Commemorative Discourse, : 105 

IX. 

Successor of Dr. Adams — Sowing and Reaping — Con- 
cluding Remarks, 211 



MEMOIE 

OF 

REV. 9. W. ADAMS, D. D* 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

In presenting to the public the biog- 
raphy or memoir of any individual, some 
definite object should be had in view, be- 
yond the mere rescuing of a name from 
oblivion. There should be an aim to in- 
struct and benefit others. 

The object of rescuing the name of a 
deceased friend from forgetfulness, may be 
the result of either affection or pride, but 
to have in view the benefit and instruc- 
tion of others, is quite a different matter. 

While the former object may be inci- 
dental, how much should the pleasure be 
enhanced by the thought, that, by the 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

example of a life many may be prompted 
to enter upon a career of industry, virtue 
and usefulness. Such, it is believed, will 
be the certain tendency of these pages. 

Comparatively little of what the subject 
of this Memoir said or did will be given 
in detail, but sufficient will be furnished 
to set forth his true character, the princi- 
ples by which he was actuated, and the 
success attained. 

The leading object will be, to induce 
those who may read this work, to imitate 
the example of the deceased Pastor, by 
placing themselves early and immediate- 
ly, upon the foundation of virtue and 
religion, and from it never to swerve, 
'" however much the tide of iniquity may 
drift about, and the storms of temptation 
sweep around." 

The remembrance of a noble, Christian 
life should be perpetuated. That such was 
the life of our deceased friend, is acknowl- 
edged by all who knew him well. 

The principal feature of this Memoir 



INTRODUCTION. VII 

will be, to present the character of the 
" Late Pastor," as a Christian minister. In 
this respect it is believed the subject will 
be peculiarly inviting. 

When it is conceded that one possesses 
great powers and brilliancy, and to these 
are added the advantages of the highest 
culture, it is not strange that he should 
attain to high position and influence. 
But the example of such an one rather 
discourages than otherwise, for the major- 
ity of the young will say, we have not the 
ability to attain to such eminence and 
success, and therefore they will not strive 
u for the mastery." How different from 
this was the subject of this Memoir? Not 
claiming to be gifted by nature, with 
these extraordinary abilities, he became 
" a bright and shining light " in the minis- 
try, and was esteemed for intelligence and 
worth wherever known. This he achieved 
by a process open to others, as well as 
himself, upon the principle that "like ac- 
tons will produce like results." 



Till IXTRODUCTIOX. 

Every step in his progress is calculated 
to encourage the virtuous and persever- 
ing. In accomplishing the proposed task, 
the aim will be mainly to let Dr. Adams be 

his own biographer, by making free use 
of his writings and sermons. Near the 

close of the Memoir a commemorative 
discourse will be given, prepared by J. M. 
Hoyt, Esq., to which reference will often 
he had to supply deficiencies in other 
places. It is with peculiar satisfaction 
that the writer already learns, that this 
Souvenir is looked for with interest, by 
many in the community, and he only re- 
grets that the limits assigned, will not 
allow his doing full justice to the subject. 
From the foregoing considerations it is 
believed, that the work contemplated will 
be so far acceptable and useful as not 
only to justify, but require its publica- 
tion 



MEMOIR 



EARLY WRITINGS — FIXED PRINCIPLES — CALL AND 
ACCEPTANCE OF PASTORATE AT CLEVELAND. — 
SERMON. 

In this Introduction no account of the 
parentage or birth of the subject of this 
memoir will be given, nor many j)artic- 
ulars connected with his ministry, as all 
these, so far as contemplated, will appear 
in the commemorative discourse before 
referred to. 

Doubtless it will be a matter of inter- 
est to many readers, especially to the 
young, to know something of the habits 
of thought of their friend, and the princi- 



10 MEMOIR OF 

pies by which he was governed in youth, 
and which laid the foundation of his char- 
acter in maturer years. 

Fortunately for this purpose, some of 
the early writings of the deceased Pastor 
have been preserved, and we have access 
to them. 

When he first entered upon his college 
course he wrote as follows : 

" So strong and powerful have been the influen- 
ces of selfish motives, that we discover man has 
often made himself the subject of disgrace and 
shame. Among the crimes that have brought, not 
only infamy upon one individual, but involved 
wiiole communities in jeopardy, and even ruin, 
bribery stands prominent. Its tendency is to cor- 
rupt man, to render him reckless to all sense 
of honor, to sacrifice every principle of integrity, 
and suffer himself to be rendered the mere instru- 
ment of another's interest, to be subservient to one 
who may present to him an object of gain. 

" The man who thus suffers his principles to be 
violated for a paltry sum, sacrifices his honor, bar- 
ters all that is noble and admirable, and abandons 
those principles to which he should cling with an 
unyielding grasp." 



S. W. ADAMS. 11 

The attention of the reader is invited 
to this extract, and as the following pages 
are read, it will be seen that the thoughts 
to which expression is here given, were 
no mere form of words, but were the 
result of youthful convictions, and were 
as strong and governing in the case of 
the " Freshman in College," as they were 
in the experienced Pastor and Divine. 
At this early age the youthful Seymour 
W. Adams clung to integrity of principle 
" with an unyielding grasp," and hence 
his record on earth, and hence his record 
on high. 

On another occasion, during his stu- 
dent life, we find him, in his literary exer- 
cises, dwelling upon the necessity of phy- 
sical and intellectual activity, in order 
to success and happiness in life. Tims he 
writes : 

"By a wise provision of the Sovereign Ruler of 
the world, the happiness of man is intimately 
connected with the exercise of his physical and 
intellectual powers ; and he needs no greater evi- 



12 MEMOIK OF 

deuce of his obligation to exert his abilities, than 
the fact, that in order to ameliorate his condition, 
exertion, both of the mind and body, is indispensa- 
bly necessary ; and though he is possessed of noble 
powers, and endowed with capacities sufficient to 
secure his happiness, yet, without his own action 
and energy, he will not only be destitute of enjoy- 
ment, but he will be subject to disgrace and 
misery." 

Ill 18-11 the Freshman has become a 
Senior, and study and experience have 
been teaching him their valuable lessons. 
As he bids adieu to College life, he takes, 
as the subject of his Oration, " Develop- 
ment of Character." The following are 
brief extracts from that oration : 

" Numerous are the circumstances that concur to 
facilitate the development of intellectual strength. 

* * * In no period of the world's history have 
any become deservedly great before whom have not 
been thrown impediments of no inconsiderable 
magnitude ; even those on whom Nature has be- 
stowed her gifts with a lavish hand * * are not 
beyond the influence of impediments. * * * * 
Difficulties may long have met the aspirant at 
every step, and been for years his constant com- 



S. W. ADAMS. 13 

panions, yet, so far from proving detrimental, they 
have been among the most efficient means for pre- 
paring him for vigorous effort to surmount still 
greater barriers. As with the streams, whose wa- 
ters, meeting with temporary opposition, accumu- 
late but to move with greater velocity and power, 
so it is with the growing strength of intellect." 

It will not be consistent with the brev- 
ity of this work to refer more at large to 
the early writings of the subject of this 
memoir, nor is it necessary for any prac- 
tical purpose, as the extracts already 
given aiford us the means for ascertaining 
his true character in early life, and how 
it was he afterwards became the " strong 
man," the "true friend" and "successful 
pastor." 

First — He makes integrity the govern- 
ing principle of life, 

Second — He maintains that activity and 
also energy are indispensably necessary to 
success, and this activity and energy must 
be both physical and intellectual ; and 

Finally — That no one can become u de- 



14 MEMOIR OF 

servedly great," who does not encounter 
and overcome the impediments and diffi- 
culties constantly presenting themselves. 

As acting in accordance with these con- 
victions rendered the life of Seymour W. 
Adams a success, so will like action pro- 
duce like results with others. 

Passing over the intermediate years 
from the time of graduation from Hamil- 
ton College, we come to the time of his 
visiting Cleveland, on the invitation of 
the First Baptist Church. 

The writer well remembers his first 
meeting with the subject of this Memoir. 
The impression is as vivid as if it were but 
yesterday. He was acconrpanied by J. 
M. Hoyt, by whom the writer was intro- 
duced to him. It was the 19th of Septem- 
ber, 1846. It will naturally be asked — 
"How did he appearand what impres- 
sion did he make upon you at that time ? " 
Only a brief answer can be given. His 
whole manner and intercourse could con- 



S. W. ADAMS. 15 

vey but one impression ; that was, that 
he was hereon his "Master's business," 
and that he was desirous of knowing if it 
was for that intent we had sent for him. 
During his stay in Cleveland of nearly 
three weeks at that time, the writer was 
much in his society, and not a word or 
act can be recalled which would not have 
impressed those around him that his de- 
sire was, " to be a good minister of Jesus 
Christ." If any inquiring ones had been 
present, and desired to be pointed to the 
" Way of Life," there was no word nor act 
of the youthful minister but would have 
indicated the true direction. 

In this view, also, some extracts from 
the Church Book, as recorded by the 
Clerk, Deacon John Benney, may be of 
interest : 

'• Lord's Day, September 2<), 1846. 
" This clay we have had the pleasure of hearing 
Brother S. W. Adams, of Vernon, N. Y., preach 
three times. 



16 MEMOIR OF 

" Wednesday Evening, Sept. 23. 
'• Me. Adams preached. 

" Lord's Day. September 27, 1846. 
" Brother Adams preached three excellent ser- 
mons. May the blessed Spirit graciously honor 
them as the means of invigorating His Church in 
truth, and converting sinners/' 

On the 4th day of October, a call was 
extended to him to become Pastor, and as 
this is a most important event, both in 
the life of the pastor and the history of 
the Church, the record is transcribed in 

full : 

" Lord's Day, October 4, 1846. 
•'Rev. S. W. Adams again preached, morning 

and evening, and administered the Lord's Supper. 
At the conclusion of the ordinance, the Church 
having been requested to remain after Brother 
Adams had retired, Bro. B. Rouse was chosen Mod- 
erator. Prayer was offered by Brother Hoyt. A 
free interchange of sentiment was expressed by the 
brethren as to the propriety of calling Brother 
Seymour W. Adams to the pastoral oversight of 
this Church ; after which Brother Bishop intro- 
duced the subjoined resolutions, which were unan- 
imously adopted : 



S. W. ADAMS. 17 

" Resolved, That during the time Bro. S. W. Ad- 
ams has been with us, we have listened with pleas- 
ure and we trust with profit, to the preaching of 
the Word by him : and that so tar as we have had 
opportunity to enjoy it, we have been much pleased 
in our private intercourse with him. and we be- 
lieve his coming among us is of the Lord, and not 
man ; and therefore, it is unanimously 

"Besolved, That this Church hereby invite Bro. 
•S. \Y. Adams to become its Pastor. 

v -The Clerk was requested to furnish Brother 
Adams with a copy of the above, and inform him 
that the Church would wait his reply with much 
solicitude, and would pray the Lord of the harvest 
to direct him in the path of duty in reference 
thereto. 

" Alter prayer for the Divine ble>sing upon the 
very solemn and important occasion of our meet- 
ing, by Father Sked, the meeting adjourned. 

'• John Benney, Clerk. 

11 Bro. Adams left for the East on Monday. 5th 

October, and promised to take the subject of the 
above request into his prayerful consideration." 

After Mr. Adams had left for his home, 
and after this call had been extended to 



18 ' MEMOIR OF 

him, there was alternating between hope 
and fear as to his final decision. 

The settlement of a Pastor is always a 
matter of interest, and in this instance it 
was peculiarly so. The Church had now 
become of one mind and one heart in this 
matter. Generally some leading brother 
has a friend whom he would like to have 
called to the vacant pastorate ; but in 
this instance no one had a favorite to pre- 
sent, and the heart of each, so far as he 
had been favored with the acquaintance 
of the young preacher, and had listened 
to his discourses here, was drawn out 
towards him, and already there was a 
yearning that he should be our Pastor. 

During this season of suspense, prayer 
was continually offered, not only in 
the public congregations of the church, 
but in the family circle and in the 
closet, that he who had been called as 
Pastor, might have "Divine guidance" in 
the decision he should make. 



S. W. ADAMS. ' 1^ 

On the 30th of October, 1846, the 
Church was assembled in covenant-meet- 
ing, the venerable Deacon Sked acting 
as -Moderator, when it was announced 
that " a letter had been received from Bro, 
Seymour W. Adams, accepting the invita- 
tion of this church to become its pastor." 
The letter was then read, as follows : 

" After deliberatiou, and counsel invoked from 
above, I have concluded to accept the invitation 
you have cordially given, to become your pastor. 
In doing this, I am not insensible to many deficien- 
cies for so important a trust, and would sincerely 
beg an interest in your prayers for me, that my 
coming among you may be owned of God, and that 
the union contemplated may be productive of last- 
ing good to you, and the impenitent in your midst. 
'-Yours, in Gospel bonds, 

"S. W. Adams." 

Most heartily was the request of the 
pastor responded to by the church — that 
his coming might be owned of God ; 
and although his surviving brethren, in 
looking back to the period of the settle- 
ment of this young pastor, are sensible of 



20 MEMOIR OF 

many short-comings in regard to the en- 
couragement and support given him, yet, 
from the very commencement of his pas- 
torate, attachments between us sprang up 
and increased, which were more enduring 
than life — and now that he has left us, 
they have followed him to his resting- 
place, and have also not passed without 
tokens of affectionate remembrance to- 
wards his widowed wife and orphan child- 
ren. 

On the arrival of the new pastor the 
house of worship was undergoing repairs, 
and for a Sabbath or two the service was 
irregular. An account of the first regular 
service is recorded as follows : 

■" Lord's Day, November 22, 1846, 
" This morning we had the satisfaction of again 
meeting in our usual place of worship. The house 
had been cleansed, painted and repaired, and was 
opened by a most judicious discourse by our pastor, 
on the duties and responsibilities of the pastoral 
office. May grace be communicated from on high, 
to enable both pastor and people to perform with 



S. W. ADAMS. 21 

christian fidelity the solemn duties enjoined upon 
them as the servants of the Redeemer." 

It may be well presumed that a dis- 
course on such a subject, delivered on 
such an occasion, would afford landmarks, 
and give us the key to his success in after 
life ; and naturally, those interested, will 
desire above all other discourses, to read 
this one. We have it in our j)ower to 
gratify them, and it will be given in full. 

The writer will not here attempt a 
review of this discourse, as there will be 
a reference to it at the conclusion of this 
work, but will proceed at once with the 
sermon. 



SERMOK, 



DELIVERED BY THE REV. SEYMOUR W. ADAMS, 
NOVEMBER 22, 1846, ON ENTERING UPON THE 
PASTORATE OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF 
CLEVELAND. 



''For they watch for your souls as they that must 
give account." — IJei. IS : 17. 



You are supposed to be familiar with 
the context. The sentiment inculcated is 
that of adherence to authorized instruc- 
tion. This is enforced bj r the subjoined 
words of the text. In the cogent reason 
assigned for this submission we have the 
pastoral office indicated, with its fearful 
responsibilities. 

It is incumbent upon us to concede the 
existence of the office, with its vast and 
varied obligations. A slight examination 



24 MEMOIR OF 

discovers to us, that let this be filled by 
whomsoever it may, responsibility is not 
exclusively his ; there is a partnership of 
interest ; pastor and people are conjoined; 
vain is it for either to plead an excuse for 
themselves. Guilt lies at the door, where 
either attempt an escape from the mutual 
duties involved in the relation instituted 
by Heaven. 

It may not be amiss to be reminded of 
the duties of the solemn position we have 
recently taken, I trust from sincere and 
prayerful reasons. The present is proba- 
bly as favorable an opportunity as we 
shall enjoy, to point out the nature of the 
ministerial office, and specify some prom- 
inent things that fall within the range of 
the sacred vocation. 

The words chosen for this purpose will 
lead me to speak, first, of the objects of 
solicitude ; secondly, the officiating char- 
acter ; thirdly, the mode of operation. 

First — the objects of pastoral vigilance, 






S. W. ADAMS. "Id 

what are they? The text furnishes the 
reply — "They watch for your souls." 

To place this in clearer light, or hold it 
up for your inspection, so that its com- 
parative and intrinsic value may be ap- 
prehended, let us remind you by way of 
negation, that houses and lands do not 
fall within the category. After these, 
yourselves, or the hirelings in your em- 
ploy, will look. You entrust none of 
these interests to the ministerial iucum- 
bent. You neither lessen your own cares, 
or gain release from your chosen pursuits, 
hj having the pastoral office filled, any 
farther than that supply incidentally 
allows you to follow out your particular 
calling, without attempting to make up 
for deficiencies when the office is vacated. 
That these are neglected cannot be his 
fault, or that they are cared for will not 
be his praise. 

Nor have you entrusted civil matters to 
his keeping: there are those whom, by 
the exercise of your suffrages, you, as a 



26 MEMOIR OF 

part of the people, have elevated to sta- 
tions of civil trust ; these are filled by the 
deputed servants, and they are expected 
to look after the immediate and legiti- 
mate interest of their cause and country. 
The province of the minister does not 
bring him into these spheres to wield his 
influence, to execute the laws of the land, 
to administer justice from the bench, or 
plead for and defend the rights of men at 
the bar. For these he may care as a citi- 
zen, a man, and a christian, and is at lib- 
erty to promote them in a lawful way, 
amenable to God for what he does. 

None need take him as his political ad- 
viser. He is not called to figure in the 
strife of politics, nor should any seek to 
draw him into that arena. I need not 
specify all the objects that do not con- 
cern him in his official character. Many 
are too obvious to name, even ; we wish 
to particularize so far that the definite 
and appropriate work of the minister may 
be understood. 



S. W. ADAMS. 21 

"They watch for your souls" — your im- 
mortal part ; not for the reputation you 
may chance to wear intellectually, but 
the moral bearing you sustain in the light 
of the sacred word. 

This embodies, first, those who are en- 
rolled as servants of the Lord, who have 
signified their love to the Head of the 
Church, by a union with his visible peo- 
ple. 

Subscribe to the doctrine of the perse- 
verance of the saints as firmly as we may, 
yet from the time that one takes the 
christian name he does not cease to be an 
object of solicitude; he is not only to set 
a guard over himself, but to share the vig- 
ilance of his brethren and pastor. The 
assumption of the christian name is not 
the signal for flight from the watch-care 
of the under shepherd, let him be whom 
the spirit and the provideuce of God ap- 
point ; but it is rather a public intimation 
and acknowledgment that the individual 
is henceforth to be subject to his religious 



2S MEMOIR OF 

teacher, and the counsel of his brethren 
under God. 

Their spiritual interests are not re- 
moved from all danger. Consider ; they 
are in a world of temptations ; they are 
walking through a region beset with 
snares, gins and pitfalls ; nor is it certain 
that all whose names are registered here 
have been entered on high. Think it l.ot 
marvelous, if, on assuming the duties of 
the church relation members become more 
than ever objects of anxiety; from the 
day you enter the church, brother or sis- 
ter, you become an object of solicitude to 
the under-shepherd. From that time till 
you shall be brought to that one fold and 
one shepherd, whose pasturage is found on 
the ever-verdant heights of heaven, and 
whose bowers of repose skirt the crystal 
stream that issues from the throne of God. 
Enrolled members of this portion of 
Zion, you are each fit objects of care, to 
him who may have the oversight of your 
spiritual interests. 



S. W. ADAMS. 29 

You, who may have recently put on the 
badge of discipleship, who, but a few 
months since, or years, at most, passed 
the dividing line that fences in the church 
from the world — experience has done 
much for you, if in this brief space it has 
made you too wise for counsel, too learned 
to need instruction, and too confident to 
crave the prayers and sympathies of sen- 
iors in years and attainments, or of him 
who may be the appointed watchman. 
You may (some, at least,) be threading 
the most critical way of life — that portion 
of your journey which shall measurably 
decide what lies beyond — need I utter it 
— the period of youth, when objects of 
sense have a two-fold enchantment ; when 
gloss and glitter tinge earthly enjoyments 
with a deceitful hue, and give to things 
seen an unreal aspect. If temptation has 
not ere this beset you, within and with- 
out, you are wonderful exceptions ; to 
none, perhaps, is pastoral vigilance more 
necessary. The youth in the church, 



30 MEMOIK OF 

who are they ? The prospective pillars in 
Zion's temple ! The future heirs to the 
christian patrimony here garnered up ! 
They are to become the repositories of 
counsel, of wisdom, and piety; the ac- 
tive representatives of the church ; the 
almoners of her bounties ! The advanced 
in life, dearly as we prize them, must va- 
cate their posts of honor and usefulness ; 
they must resign their trust to other 
hands. To whom do we most naturally 
look? Some are found, doubtless, in the 
list already made out. Could their names 
be called out, as occasion and duty will 
hereafter announce them, you would, 
without a dissenting voice, say such mem- 
bers are objects of special pastoral vigi- 
lance. 

Nor these alone. Every youth more 
or less prominent, the self-poised, the for- 
ward, the modest and retiring ones, need 
the encouragement, the timely advice of 
the public teacher ; without it they are 
likely to falter by the way, and when the 



S. W. ADAMS. SI 

season of revival is past, in the midst of 
which their espousals to the Lord were 
made, sink from a state of elation and joy 
to one of depression and gloom, and pass, 
step by step, from the condition of hope 
to that of doubt, and finally, renounce 
their professions and revert to the world, 
to traverse a wilderness more unwelcome 
than that through which the Israelites 
journeyed. The most faithful labor may 
not prevent coldness and declension 
or cases of egregious backsliding, error 
and delusion ; but probabilities of pro- 
gress and a well-adorned profession are 
decidedly in favor, where the requisite 
ministerial aid is enjoyed. 

Again, you that are farther advanced 
in the christian race, and at whose feet 
the speaker hopes to sit in social con- 
verse with pleasure and profit, both from 
your age and riper attainments, even you 
will confess yourselves proper individuals 
of the flock to claim the watch-care of 
the Shepherd, not in the same sense that 
others may. 



32 MEMOIR OF 

Your experience is not ever the same ; 
your outward circumstances are not fixed 
and changeless. Your ties of natural affin- 
ity may be sundered at a tender point, 
and though your attainments in holiness 
may be of a rare order, yet then will it 
not be a privilege to lay open the depth 
of your affliction to a sympathysing 
teacher, and in union with him approach 
a mercy-seat of consolation? Disease may 
prostrate your bodies, and long continued 
suffering impair the vigor of your mind ; 
will not encouragement then be wel- 
comed? And should intense gloom be 
the lot of any, acute mental anguish pos- 
sess you, while human power cannot re- 
move it, yet human instrumentality may 
point to an efficient source, and kindly 
lend assistance — alike the privilege and 
duty of a minister to bestow. 

But still more. You that are blest with 
a large experience, who have long since 
been indoctrinated, are objects of care 
from this circumstance — you form a pas- 



S. W. ADAMS. 33 

tor's handiwork : to you reference is and 
will be made ; of you may we not say, as 
Paul did of the Corinthians — " Ye are our 
epistles, written in our hearts, known and 
read of all men." 

Possessed of such natures as we are, 
none of us can so rise above another as 
not to desire this sympathy ; and that 
must be a strange stage of the church's 
history, when, in her earthly course, any 
of her members, from the youngest to the 
most advanced, will not need the over- 
sight of an nnder-shephercl. 

I may say, in fine, that under all condi- 
tions conceivable, the members of the 
visible Zion are just objects of solicitude, 
whether they have recently been inducted 
into her folds, or have long stood within 
her gates ; whether they are to remain 
for a series of years, or are now on the 
eve of departure ; when souls are making 
rapid strides toward the kingdom of per- 
fect purity and bliss, and when moving 
only with a dilatory pace. Are you pros- 



84 MEMOIR OF 

perous ? Are your minds fruitful in divine 
things ? Are themes of heavenly reflec- 
tion often dwelt upon ? Familiarity with 
you can hardly fail of imparting lessons 
of good. Of such, in private and public- 
stations, he who is upon the walls of Zion, 
who has long stood in the watch tower 
wouldnot scorn to learn ; and if it be far 
otherwise, if leanness and poverty are your 
portion, should it not come to the notice 
of him, who, under God, should lead you 
into the pastures of tender grass, and by 
the waters of quietness and plenty ? 

We do not restrict the objects of pasto- 
ral attention to those who are within the 
church. There are those who hang around 
her courts, who " love the gates of Zion 
more than all the dwellings of Jacob," 
who for want of strength, encouragement, 
or proper light, have not numbered them- 
selves with the chosen of the Lord, by a 
public profession. To such you at once 
concede the propriety of rendering coun- 
sel, and the source whence it may with the 



S. W. ADAMS. 35 

utmost consistency, proceed. I will not 
pause here to dilate upon the importance 
of their union with God's people, but sim- 
ply refer this matter to the decisions of 
Holy Writ, which is the mind of God 
revealed. 

The boundaries of pastoral vigilance 
are still broader. Souls are under their 
eye; they weekly meet those whom they 
will hereafter confront at the trying day 
— penitent and impenitent sinners ! If 
any are habituated to attendance upon 
the preached word here, who have your- 
selves cast off concern, remember, there 
are those who care for you ; those to 
whom a solemn charge has been given, in 
the exercise of which they often tremble. 
The purport of this charge is intimated in 
Ezekiel, in these words : "Son of man, I 
have made thee a watchman unto the 
house of Israel ; therefore, hear the word 
at my mouth, and give them warning 
from me. When I say unto the wicked 
thou shalt surelv die ! and thou givest 



^>0 MEMOIR OF 

him not warning, nor speakest to warn 
the wicked from his ways, to save his life, 
the same wicked man shall die in his ini- 
quity, but his blood will I require at thine 
hand." Souls, then, who wait before us, 
renewed or unrenewed, are to be recorded 
in our list. 

Some may be within these walls, to- 
day, without the most distant thought of 
adding to their responsibilities by com- 
ing here, or enforcing a claim of prayer- 
ful notice upon pastor' or people. Such 
we conceive to be those, from whom to 
withhold a word of instruction, would be 
wrong ; and to such let me say, that by 
whomsoever the sacred office is filled, 
when he has faithfully discharged his 
duty, he is unto God a sweet savor of 
Christ in them that are saved, and in 
them that perish. 

There may be others whose minds are 
already seized with conviction, who would 
be conducted to him whose prerogative it 
is to ease the burdened conscience, allay 



S. W. ADAMS. 37 

the terrors of guilt, and bid the waves of 
wrath retire — to impart that peace and 
joy which are unspeakable, after the rag- 
ing storm which the conflicting elements 
of sin and truth have occasioned. Time 
will not allow me to amplify farther in 
this division, but simply to add, that every 
class of accessible minds becomes more 
or less fit objects of concern to him who 
labors in word and doctrine. Though the 
restriction then, to watch over souls be a 
restriction that fastens attention to one 
object, you cannot fail to see the magni- 
tude and variety of the classes. 

I am to speak of the officiating charac- 
ter. Who is he, or what should he be \ 

Not a being of angelic order, possessing 
neither the purity of a sinless race, nor 
the mental power of a super-human intel- 
ligence. He is, at best, but a man ; to 
be either more or less than man, might 
unfit him for his calling. Of like passions 
with you, a man of many infirmities, as 
likely to possess them as those in other 



38 MEMOIR OF 

vocations of life, he is a fallible being, 
neither free from errors or faults ; in 
whom, though the deficiencies exist in no 
greater degree than in scores and hund- 
reds of others, yet they may be seen and 
conceived to be of greater magnitude and 
multiplicity, from the conspicuousness of 
his station. He lies under obligations in 
common with others. Every christian is 
under the most solemn obligations to live 
a holy life, and what more is demanded 
of a minister ? 

We may note that he should be a holy 
man — " Who shall ascend into the hill of 
the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy 
place ! He that hath clean hands and a 
pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his 
soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." 
u Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the 
Lord." "Keep thyself pure," was an in- 
junction laid upon the youthful Timothy, 
by his spiritual foster father, and with 
equal pertinence may it apply to the 
whole ministerial order. 



S. W. ADAMS. 39 

This is enforced by the consideration 
that a pastor becomes an example to 
many. He is commanded to be such to 
the believers, "in word, in conversation, 
in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 77 
I might give you in full what a minister 
should be, and that description might be 
a tissue of Scripture quotations. Let me 
cite you to the epistles which Paul penned 
to Timothy ; read them, as opportunity 
favors you, and you are in possession of 
light upon the subject. 

Reason unites with revelation to sup- 
port the idea, that the minister's life 
should be such, that when copied by those 
attendant upon his labors, no cause of 
shame should be seen. Weight of char- 
is certainly needed here, if anywhere, 
for he stands upon a focal point. In- 
fluence is streaming forth, like light 
from yonder orb, to bless mankind, by 
conducting them to the Fountain of all 
Good, or leading them away captive, into 
regions of darkness and death. To stand 



40 MEMOIR OF 

upon this, or any similar summit, only to 
fling the phosphorescent glare of error and 
imposture from a body of moral putridity 
— who does not shudder at the thought? 
Well do we all know that the functionary 
here must magnify his office. Who of you 
does not subscribe to the lines of Cow- 
per, as both truthful and pertinent? 

" I venerate the man whose heart is warm, 

Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life 

Coincident, — exhibit lucid proof 

That he is honest in the sacred cause ; 

To such I render more than mere respect, 

Whose actions say that they respect themselves. " 

It now remains to notice the method 
in which the pastoral vigilance is to be 
exercised. 

The intensity of interest indicated in 
the words before us — "They watch for 
your souls as they that must give account" 
— leaves us to suj)pose that some well 
devised plan or mode of operation was 
adopted, to secure so weighty and valua- 
ble an end as the salvation of souls. 



S. W. ADAMS. 41 

The means which God has placed in 
their hands, are such as appeal to the un- 
derstanding — that operate upon the heart 
and conscience. Truth is that powerful 
instrument which they are to wield. The 
preaching of " Christ, and him crucified," 
is the pre-eminent truth that embodies 
the elements of good to immortal minds. 
It hath "pleased God by the foolishness 
of preaching to save them that believe." 
In the exercise of his official duty, this 
work must constitute a prominent — a 
chief part. 

We are led to admire the wisdom that 
has devised a plan so well adapted to 
reach the mass of minds, in a manner so 
practicable. It combines convenience, 
economy, simplicity and power. A sab- 
bath of relief from worldly toil is given ; 
and such is the human constitution, men- 
tal, moral and physical, that both tempo- 
ral and eternal interests prompt to its 
observance, and are promoted in a suc- 
cessful way when the day is hallowed. A 



42 MEMOIR OF 

sanctuary is provided, comely and invit- 
ing, where the instructions of vital value 
may be heard ; thither may all resort who 
are able to be profited by what is pre- 
sented ; here they listen, not to the effu- 
sions of the moment, not to the product 
of one brief hour, but to reflections which 
the study of a whole preceding week has 
furnished. 

In this exercise he is called to vigilance 
in the selection and delivery of truth in 
its proper proportions and relations. To 
Timothy was given the charge — "Take 
heed unto thyself and the doctrine ; con- 
tinue in them, for in doing this thou shalt 
both save thyself and them that hear 
thee." It is not indifferent what he pre- 
sents, or how he presents it. Though sim- 
ple are the facts, and plain the practical 
duties enjoined, in the main, yet the work 
of combining, arranging, and so adapting 
matter that each shall have his portion in 
due season, involves no idler's task. To it 
time, thought and prayer must be given. 



S. W. ADAMS. 43 

Is he called to be a workman upon the 
spiritual temple ? then must he needs 
study to show himself approved unto God. 
Where is the artizan that can be indiffer- 
ent to the implements he uses, or heed- 
less of the manner in which he wields 
them ? he may convert them to bad pur- 
poses, to destruction instead of edifica- 
tion. Who dare lay careless hands upon 
that implement of ethereal temper, the 
sword of the Spirit, of two-edged power ? 
Who will draw it from its scabbard, and 
recklessly muffle its edge, by infolding it 
in mystery and doubt ? Or who will seek 
only to burnish the exterior with artful 
polish, and brandish the flaming blade for 
the amusement of his auditory ? Be it 
ever the appropriate work of the minister 
to wield the simple truth, and yield to it 
every advantage its divine author has 
given, that it may be quick and powerful. 

In the exhibition of truth we claim for 
the minister, plainness of speech, the lib- 
erty to free his own mind and acquit his 



44 MEMOIR OF 

own conscience before God. In the exe- 
cution of this task you will see the pro- 
priety of endorsing the words of Elihu to 
Job — " Let me not, I pray you, accept any 
man's person, neither let me give flatter- 
ing titles unto man, for I know not to 
give flattering titles ; in so doing my Ma- 
ker would soon take me away." 

In the public communication there is 
the latitude of speech which the nature 
of the subject allows, the exemplification 
of its parts with directness and point, 
without the charge of personality. Let 
none take umbrage at a discourse because 
of its searching, sifting character. Be- 
cause in it one happens to find an exact 
portraiture of himself, let him not retire, 
and say, the minister is personal, I dislike 
it. There is a sense in which all truth is 
personal. The speaker utters truth as 
truth, and hopes to benefit those for whom 
it is adapted. He may give a running 
commentary upon your history, hearer, 
and not know you by name, or one of 



S. W. ADAMS. 45 

your kindred. Is reproof given, and are 
you delinquent? — the minister meant you, 
and it is no personality. 

I may here observe, that the burden of 
the ambassador's message is "Christ, and 
him crucified." From this radical stock 
spring all the doctrines of human perfec- 
tability and salvation ; here is the germ 
that unfolds the principle of a life of holi- 
ness to apostate man, and also bears in 
it the condemnatory sentence upon sin. 
I know not of a christian grace that will 
not germinate from this root ; I know not 
of a christian excellence which can hold 
its being independent of this fundamental 
doctrine. It is the central orb in the sys- 
tem of salvation. I know not of an evil 
that now disfigures the footstool, which 
this truth preached in all its bearings is 
not designed to overthrow. It is the 
great corrective of human evils ; on it 
hangs the hope of a world's salvation. 
With the proclamation of this and its kin- 
dred truths, stand vitally joined the wel- 



46 MEMOIR OF 

fare of souls. Entertaining this view, it 
will be my endeavor to keep within the 
province of this truth ; nor can I feel that 
the purposes of my mission are best an- 
swered by selecting one evil and making 
an exclusive assault upon that. To my 
mind no one evil rears its colossal head 
so much above the rest, as to warrant the 
minister's release from the oversight of 
souls under immediate charge, to make it 
the mark for all the arrows in his quiver. 
There is a possibility of being diverted 
from the great end which should be kept 
in view. The welfare of souls is further 
promoted by pastoral visitation, by direct 
and familiar converse at the domestic 
hearth. Here may be learned that to 
which a public servant would otherwise 
remain a stranger ; there passages of 
christian experience may be heard, trials 
laid open, and counsel and comfort given, 
as necessities demand. 

Let me here remark that this should 
not be too much counted upon, especially 



S. W. ADAMS. 47 

in a numerous congregation. It is easy to 
perceive how the best hours which one 
can command in the week could be em- 
ployed in this way, without reserving a 
portion in which to prepare his thoughts 
for many whom he must meet upon the 
Sabbath, and many who will be met in 
no other way. It becomes, then, a point 
for all to consider, how the distribution 
shall be made, and into how small a com- 
pass the pastoral visit must be brought 
to be what is desirable, efficient and 
available to many. Those in sickness 
and affliction have claims superior to 
others, and those generally whose oppor- 
tunities of attendance upon the stated 
ordinances are few, are to be preferred 
to those who ever enjoy them. The rule 
by which a pastoral visit shall be made, 
I am not able to prescribe for myself or 
for any one. Circumstances may vary; 
families are not found in the same state 
of readiness to greet the pastor, and 
enter upon familiar discourse pertaining 



48 MEMOIR OF 

to their spiritual welfare, and yet cordi- 
ality towards him and his work may be 
warmly cherished. In the brief expe- 
rience in this which I have enjoyed, I 
have retired from those families with 
greater satisfaction to my own mind, 
with whom I had the privilege of bowing 
at the mercy seat, with as many of their 
own number as could be conveniently 
collected, than where it has not been 
enjoyed. I revert to such scenes and 
seasons with fresh delight. They are 
green spots in a desert world. It will 
be your liberty and your place, if you 
desire such an exercise under your roof, 
to extend the invitation. This you may 
do without embarrassment or the fear of 
refusal. All that is done in the desk or 
at the family hearth should be done in 
a spirit of prayer. Youth and inexperi- 
ence would plead for much indulgence 
towards him whom you have called to 
officiate as your pastor. The discharge 
of our duties mutually will be facilitated 



S. W. ADAMS. 49 

by a frequent resort to the strong hold 
for help, — to Him who is the strength 
of all his saints. 

If it be asked what will be expected 
from you as a people, time will not now 
allow me to enter upon many particulars ; 
but in few words it may be answered: 
A hearty co-operation in the use of 
Heaven's appointed means for the salva- 
tion of souls, the conversion of sinners, 
and the perfection of Zion's members. 
With these means and their use, you 
are, or ought to be, familiar. They are 
such as preaching the word, reading the 
scriptures, maintaining the ordinances of 
the church, attending upon exhortation 
and prayer, "speaking to yourselves in 
psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, 
singing, and making melody in your 
hearts to the Lord." In fine, letting your 
conversation be such as becometh the 
Gospel, everywhere, and at all times. 
These are not of modern invention, — 
they are as old as Apostolic and primi- 



50 MEMOIR OF 

tive measures. Depart from these, or 
attempt to supplant them by any of 
human ingenuity, and whatever you may 
gain, will by no means be equivalent to 
what you must lose. The word admin- 
istered, supposes an auditory to receive it. 
Dependence is made upon you, brethren, 
to constitute your part of the assembly. 
If there is an obligation resting upon one 
to speak, there is also upon others to hear. 
Meetings for social prayer and devotion, 
cannot be well sustained in your absence. 
In a well attended prayer meeting, a 
pastor finds a powerful auxiliary to his 
work. Then he feels as though Aarons 
and Hurs were upon either side of him ; 
that he is encompassed with a cloud of 
witnesses to attest the verity of his 
doctrine. Did many consider the de- 
spondency that steals over a minister 
when he beholds few come to these 
solemn festivals, they would oftener be 
found in the prayer room. Seated in 
loneliness, which might as well be found 



S. W. ADAMS. 51 

in his own chamber, he is likely to agi- 
tate the question, whether duty does 
not demand him to seek another field. 
And what could be more natural? 

You know full well that your counsel 
and your prayers are needed in the 
discipline of the church, in the main- 
tenance of gospel order in our midst. 
These are now solicited, with the hope 
of continuance. Have we not some good 
degree of assurance that you prize the 
gates of Zion, by rendering the place of 
assemblage commodious and becoming? 
Are not the walls around us as monu- 
mental evidence that the ordinance of 
a preached word was and is contem- 
plated. May they who have aided in 
rearing and preserving this edifice, and 
still more, have recorded their names 
as born in Zion, enjoy the rich pleasure 
of here banqueting upon the Saviour's 
love, and sit dow T n under His shadow with 
great delight. Here may the Church, 
the King's daughter, be all glorious 



52 MEMOIR OF 

within — her clothing of wrought gold. 
May all of her kindred be emulous to 
be clad in the garments of salvation and 
covered with the robe of the Saviour's 
righteousness, and wear the christian 
graces as their adornment. 

Peace be within these walls. 

May the time not be distant when 
anxious minds shall crowd the gates of 
Zion, and some now strangers to renew- 
ing grace, share in the saving benefits 
of a Saviour's death. 



II. 

SUBJECTS OF SERMONS — EXTRACTS FROM SERMONS 
BEFORE THE MATERNAL ASSOCIATION AND TO THE 
YOUNG — AFFLICTIONS OF THE PASTOR AND THE 
CHURCH — LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 

As already indicated, it will be our 
aim to let Dr. Adams be his own biog- 
rapher as far as possible, and let the 
records speak as penned by himself. 

Thus far we have seen him fairly in- 
ducted into the pastoral office, and his, 
work laid out and set before his people. 
This was followed in a very short period 
of time by discourses on u The order and 
spirit of primitive Evangelism," Acts 8:. 
5; " Religious views," Ps. 56: 12; "The 
Divine Law Wonderful," Ps. 119: 18; 
"Walk in wisdom towards them that 
are without," Col. 4:5; "The folly of 



54 MEMOIR OF 

sinning against wisdom," Prov. 8: 36; 
"The pardoning love of God," Micali 7: 
18; "The eternity of Christ," Eev. 1: 18; 
u The exceeding greatness of God's pow- 
er as displayed towards those who trust 
in Him," Eph. 1: 19; u The resurrection 
of the dead," 1 Cor. 15: 51-2. A little 
later he delivered a discourse before 
the Maternal Association of the Church 
from Ezek. 16: 41. A little later still 
he preached on "Youthful Piety," on 
the occasion of the baptism of Wayland 
Hoyt, now the esteemed pastor of the 
Mnth Street Baptist Church of Cincin- 
nati, 1 Tim. 4: 12. 

The two last named are of such gen- 
eral interest that quite full extracts are 
given of them. 

ADDRESS BEFORE THE MATERNAL ASSO- 
CIATION, AUGUST 7, 1850. 
Ezek. 16: 44 — " As is the Mother, so is her Daughter." 
* * * What then we would have the daughter 
in her intellectual, moral, religious and social 
character, nay more, what we wonld ha\e both 



S. W. ADAMS. 55 

son and daughter, in these respects, the mother 
should be. * * * * 

Woman is designed to be the worthy partner 
of man ; his joys to euhance, and his sorrows to 
assuage. Home is her sphere. It might be suf- 
ficient to consult the highest authority upon this 
point. Solomon has indicated this in no doubtful 
terms, where he describes the industrial occupa- 
tions of the wife and mother. It was a feature 
of piety that received commendation and shed a 
glory upon the sex, that the wives and mothers 
were " keepers at home," and supervised the 
household arrangements. This seems to be the 
special province of woman, for which nature has 
eminently fitted her. Gifted with an instinctive 
relish for home scenes, it is committing an out- 
rage upon her nature to remove her from her 
cherished circle, and to disqualify her for the 
duties of the same. An analysis of her own 
nature exhibits no less the proofs of her domestic 
calling than the explicit declarations of the in- 
spired word. ****** To claim the honor 
of guiding aright the internal affairs of the house, 
to have the direction of the youthful minds there 
gathered, is honor enough. That empire, ruled 
in gentleness, meekness, modesty and love, will 
acquire for her more renown than a n be derived 
from camps and cabinets. * * * We shall take 



56 MEMOIR OF 

for granted that the mother possesses qualifica- 
tions for her station. Her contact with immortal 
minds is closer than any other person's can be. 
She can control the temper, disposition and habits 
of the child, cultivate cheerfulness, industry. * * 
The intellect must receive its first bent from 
maternal power. The germ, whose unfoldings 
never cease, begin under the watch-care ot the 
mother. How shall they commence and continue? 
Momentous inquiry ! We may well express it 
as our conviction, that the education of the intel- 
lect may be here successfully attempted, but we 
will omit remark upon this head, to speak of the 
moral and religious training that maternal instruc- 
tion may impart. It is the opportune season in 
childhood, to form the conscience, and to impart 
the laws of moral action. Would you inspire a 
love for truth, that shall be commensurate with 
human existence ? Do it in childhood. Would 
you arouse a sense of moral courage ? Do it in 
childhood. Would you have the principles of 
piety securely lodged in the soul ? Let it be done 
before the mind is preoccupied with principles of 
error, delusion and profanity. It may challenge 
our credulity to know how early impressions may 
be made that will eventuate in conversion. The 
mother of John Newtox was doubtless instru- 
mental in his conversion. He was but seven 



S. W. ADAMS. 57 

years of age at her death. He could not efface 
her image from his mind. " My mother," says 
he, "was a pious, experienced christian; and, as 
I was her only child, she made it the chief busi- 
ness and pleasure of her life to instruct me. She 
stored my memory with many valuable pieces, 
chapters and portions of scripture, catechisms, 
hymns and poems. She often commended me, 
with many tears and prayers, to God, and, I have 
been told, in her mind, devoted me to the minis- 
try." * * * * Follow the train of influences 
set in operation by such a man as John Newton. 
Suppose we were to leave out of the account all 
of the good that may have originated from the 
perusal of his own narrative, any or all his works, 
and the mass that were converted under his min- 
istry — take a few individuals that were brought 
into active labor in the kingdom of grace through 
his preaching or prayers. It is probable that the 
missionary movement in this country may be 
traced back to Newton's mother. 

Says a writer : " We doubt not that to the 
agency of Newton are we indebted for the impor- 
tant services which Dr. Buchanan rendered to 
the church and the world." * * * * Thus the 
influence is like that of an ever expanding wave. 
We cannot set limits to it. * * * * 



58 MEMOIR OF 

SERMON TO THE YOUNG, MAY 12, 1852. 

1 Tim., 4: 12 — "Let no one Despise thy Youth." 

The object of the counsel contained in the text 
is obvious. Though imparted to direct and en- 
courage one who had assumed the responsible 
duties of an ambassador of Christ, it may serve 
equally in a subordinate sense, to instruct those 
who are young in years, and Christian experience, 
whose habits are in a formative state, and who, 
from their exposure to the arts of Satan and 
seductions of the world, need to be kindly coun- 
seled and premonished of the dangers that await 
them. 

We will consider, in the first place, what 
ought not to be expected of youth professing 
piety. We ought not to look for that maturity 
of judgment which may be exhibited in their 
seniors. . * * * The want of experience, and 
lack of opportunities for repeated decisions, be- 
speak for them an apology, where superiors in 
age would be without excuse. 

2. Nor are we justified in the expectation that 
the same gravity will invariably sit upon the 
countenances of youth, hopefully pious, as upon 
the brows of three-score years or half a century. 

* * * Looking not naturally for the same 
grave air in the class under review, as in their 



S. W. ADAMS. S9 

seniors, we deem it due to be considerate in 
our estimates of their gracious state, while we 
are not set for the defence of a single moral 
obliquity. 

3. Nor again can it be expected that the same 
uniformity of feeling will be apparent in the 
young, as in those in mature or advanced life. 
The habits are not as settled and confirmed at 
this period, and the plans of life are in a plastic 
state, * * * * 

But affirmatively, we are to expect in the youth 
that profess religion, supreme love to the Saviour. 
It would be doing them irreparable wrong to 
encourage them in the hope that they have 
passed from death unto life, where this love is 
not evinced. 

This love must stand out with such prominence 
that it can be observed by every scrutinizing in- 
quirer— supreme love, that aims to consecrate all 
to the Saviour ; that prefers him to the trifles, pur- 
suits and rewards which this earth can bestow. 
A relish there may be, and should be, for many 
things lawful in themselves. But love to Christ 
should surpass love for friends however dear. 
* * * * Co-existing with this principle should 
be a stability of purpose to live unto God hence- 
forth. * * * If the developments of love be 
left to the freaks of the moment, to be control- 



60 MEMOIR OF 

led by the caprice of circumstances, we may be 
confident that it is because of some defect either 
in the knowledge or experience of the individ- 
ual. 

Again, we are to expect the spirit of humil- 
ity and meekness. It is characteristic of all who 
are the children of God to display these com- 
mendable traits. * * * 

4. A spirit of diffidence is also indicative of 
good. It argues distrust of self, and a sense of 
reliance upon superior aid. * * * 

5. Another trait should be prominent in godly 
youth. The spirit of gratitude toward those 
who are faithful in administering reproof. To 
set up a self-defence and vindicate one's course 
where questionable, argues anything but the 
spirit of ardent consecration to God. * * * Hav- 
ing indicated what ought to be expected, we pass 
to notice the exhortation of the text, "Let no 
man despise thy youth." It is not implied in this 
that to the young in general, or to any one in par- 
ticular, is committed the control of public senti- 
ment. We are not to infer that we are respon- 
sible for the views and conduct of wicked men. 
It may be safely calculated upon, that they will 
scoff; the sceptic will cavil, and whatever may 
be the conduct of young and old professing god- 
liness, some at least will despise, and wonder, 






S. W. ADAMS. 61 

and perish. * * * To make any class amen- 
able for the conduct of the ungodly, would be 
an undue extension of the limits of responsibili- 
ty. But the obvious sense of the passage is to 
so deport one's self that there will be no reason- 
able ground for despising youthful piety; that 
all occasion of reproach will be taken away; 
that complaint shall be causeless. It is evidently 
implied, that youth of holy pretensions are sub- 
ject to close inspection, nay, to closer scrutiny, be- 
cause of the fewness of years, and the want of 
experience which they suffer. * * * 

The exhortation takes high ground. It goes 
so far as to urge the attempt to silence every 
objector, so that no man, be he Jew or Gentile, 
believer or unbeliever, captious or sincere, may 
find occasion to gainsay the life and cast con- 
tempt upon the Christian name. 

1. It is proper to suggest that this can be 
obtained only \>y an implicit trust in God, an 
unconditional commitment of heart and will, and 
confiding of the soul's interest for time and 
eternity to Gocl. * * * * 

2. It is pertinent to recommend a diligent use 
of the means of grace, * * * Seized upon as 
given, they will gird up the soul to the discharge 
of its duties. They will hold it in safe anchor- 
age, however the tide of iniquity may drift 



62 MEMOIR OF 

about, and the storms of temptation sweep 
around. 

3. The same will be promoted by intercourse 
with the pious, and especially with those of rich 
and varied experience. Among the provisions 
of infinite Mercy, we reckon the establishment 
of a visible church — a select body of believers 
pervaded with gospel sympathy — in whose coun- 
sels the young may confide, in whose prayers 
they may have an interest, and in whose labors 
they may participate. Here is the blending of 
all ages. 

Here is the song of the convert just taught to 
sing with the spirit, commingling with the song 
of the saint, on the eve of triumphant ascent 
to glory. Here is an interchange with the varied 
temperaments that commonly distinguish differ- 
ent members of the family of man. It is 
somewhat in the church as in the family. The 
abler will learn to bear the infirmities of the 
w T eaker, and none can study the variegated vol- 
ume which a single church offers for perusal,, 
without improvement in spiritual wisdom. 

The space which is given for instruction to the 
young in the Bible, is evincive of the intense in- 
terest in this engaging class. * * * * Many 
have come from the sabbath school to the bosom 
of the church. Upon whom are the eyes of 



S. W. ADAMS. 63 

saints turned for the supply of places vacated 
by death and removal in our churches, but upon 
the young? In every spiritual harvest, more or 
less are gathered from this class, and in them 
the church has often received her choicest lega- 
cies of influence. * * * I am confident that 
nothing do the parents before me more desire, 
than the regeneration of their children. But it 
is not enough that they desire it. The children 
themselves must seek it. The young assembled 
here to-day to hear this word, and to witness 
the public consecration to Christ, in baptism, of 
a youthful believer, must present their own pray- 
ers to God for rescue from sin and woe. 

It will appear on a subsequent page, 
that the pastor, in a comparatively brief 
period of time, was afflicted in being 
called to part with two companions and 
an only child. At the death of the 
second Mrs. Adams, he had been in the 
pastorate about six years ; and while we 
cannot enter into particulars as to his 
life during that period, it will certainly 
be interesting and appropriate to recur 
to the action of the church at this time, 



64 MEMOIR OF 

as showing the esteem in which he was 
held, and the strong cord of sympathy 
which then united him and his people. 
When the reader has carefully perused 
the record of the action on this occa- 
sion, it will be well to keep the same 
in mind in the perusal of the remainder 
of this memoir. And in view of the 
whole, let the question be answered, 
Was there in this action an expression 
of confidence, sympathy or attachment, 
w T hich the subsequent relations of twelve 
years between this pastor and people 
did not justify? 

The following is a transcript from the 
record of Nov. 5, 1852: 

"Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father 
to afflict our beloved Pastor aud Brother, Rev. 
S. W, Adams, during the period of his ministry 
with us, and especially of late, by removing from 
him and us, his dear companion, our beloved 
sister in Christ, Mrs. Cordelia C, Adams, 

Be it resolved, That this Church, and the sev- 
eral members of it, deem it fitting and proper, 
and a privilege to express in some form, our 



S. W. ADAMS. 65 

unfeigned sympathy with our clear Pastor in his 
most trying afflictions, and also our profound 
sorrow in view of his and our irreparable loss. 
And for that purpose we direct that the follow- 
ing letter, with a copy of these proceedings, be 
furnished to our beloved Pastor, after having 
been first entered at large, upon the records of 
the Church. 

XETTER OF THE CHURCH TO THE PASTOR, 

Dearly Beloved Pastor : 

Six years and over have elapsed since 
you first assumed the pastorate of this church, 
and the connection ol pastor and people has sub- 
sisted between us. During that period, death 
lias entered your family three times, — first de- 
priving you of a companion, then of a darling 
child, and now again of another companion. So 
recent had your settlement been with us when 
death entered your little circle at first, that the 
loss was not felt so severely by us as the very 
recent one of our sister, Mrs. C. C. Adams. 

The death of the first was a sore affliction in- 
deed ; but it having been our privilege to enjoy 
& longer acquaintance with the latter, and to ex- 
perience her labors of love, sympathy and meek 
and devoted piety, for a considerable time, we 
felt, in some degree, as though she was ours. 



66 MEMOIR OF 

and that we could not part with her, and that you 
much less could spare her. But she is now gone 
from us, and her decease has made the pastor's 
home desolate, deprived him of a strong helper in 
his holy calling, and has plunged a whole church 
in sorrow and tears. And though we had come 
to think that the welfare and success of the church 
was closely interwoven with the life and health 
of our dear deceased sister, as well as with the 
life and health of our beloved pastor, yet we can- 
not forbear offering to you, dear brother, and ac- 
cepting for ourselves, the consolation, that though 
gone from your and our society, she is now an 
angel of light, and has departed but to dwell for- 
ever with the Lord. Her prayers, holy example 
and labors of love, have been availing and great- 
ly useful, yet how much more availing are her 
intercessions now, for us, in the immediate pres- 
ence and at the feet of our blessed Saviour- 
To the consolations of the religion, which you have 
taught to us, we would point you. But it is not 
necessary, tor we know you have already sought 
them, and we are confident no one has expe- 
rienced more of their efficacy than yourself. 

Although we are fully aware that anything we 
as a church, or as your brothers and sisters in 
Christ, can say or do, will accomplish but little 
toward filling the void and healing the wounds- 



S. W. ADAMS. 67 

within and about you, caused by these bereav- 
ments, yet we believe it will be some consola- 
tion to you to know that you have our fullest 
confidence and sympathy, and be assured, dear 
brother, these you shall continue to have and 
possess. We also assure you, God helping us, 
that we will be co-workers together with you 
in the cause of our common Saviour and Lord, 
and so strive, by renewed activity and zeal, that 
we may, in some small degree, clo the works of 
piety and love, which our clear deceased sister 
was accustomed to do while with us. 

In first extending to you an invitation to be- 
come our pastor, we declared to you, that we 
believed that your coming to us was of the Lord 
and not of man, and now, after an intimate ac- 
quaintance of six years, we reassure you that 
such is still our firm conviction. 

That the All- Wise God, our Heavenly Father, 
will bless your and our bereavement, to the mu- 
tual good of both you and us, and long continue 
our relation as pastor and people, is the earnest 
prayer of 

Yours ix Christian Love. 



III. 

Sermon, on removal from house of worship,, 
on seneca street, giving history cf the 

CHURCH. 

From November, 1852, when the action 
just recounted took place, to April, 1855, 
no event of moment occurred so distin- 
guished above others, as to render it 
necessary to be rehearsed here, except 
what will appear in the sermon preached 
by the pastor on removing from the old 
house of worship, on Seneca Street, and 
taking possession of the one now occu- 
pied. 

This sermon purports to give a brief 
history of the Church, from its organiza- 
tion, to April 1, 1855, and of the different 
pastorates, and of course, that of the then 
pastorate. 



70 S. W. ADAMS. 

This discourse will be read with great 
interest, on account of the variety of 
matter it contains, and especially on ac- 
count of its relation to the subject of this 
memoir, although the author, with char- 
acteristic modesty, almost conceals him- 
self from view. 

It is given substantially as published in 
the Cleveland Herald, about the time of 
its delivery. 



SEEM ON, 



Delivered at Cleveland, April 1, 1855, on 

THE OCCASION OF CLOSING THE OLD HOUSE OF 

Worship, occupied by the First Baptist 
Church for nineteen years. 



Numbers, 23 : 23 — " According to this time it shall 
be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God 

WROUGHT ?" 



The occasion renders the passage be- 
fore ns particularly apposite. We have 
met to spend the last Sabbath in this 
sanctuary — the oldest in this city that 
has not been disturbed by accident or 
design, and which has been to this 
Church for a score of years, bating one, 
"none other but the House of God, and 
the Gate of Heaven. 7 ' 



72 MEMOIR OF 

If in the eventful changes of Jacob's, 
history, it was fit to exclaim, " What hath 
God wrought?" it must still be oppor- 
tune for every branch of the numerous- 
family of faith, blessed with faithful 
Abraham, to reiterate the same language, 
whether their natural visages be en- 
stamped with the features of Jew or Gen- 
tile; for not of Jacob alone may it be 
said, "God found him in a desert land„ 
and in the waste howling wilderness ; he 
led him about, he instructed him, he kept 
him as the apple of his eye," but of every 
one who is called u with an holy calling." 

The service which we now attempt, re- 
quires us to travel back to the infant 
period of this Church, and mark its vary- 
ing phases, through all the stages of its 
growth and development to the present 
time. It may aid us in our design, to re- 
vert to a period much earlier than the 
organization of this body. 

Let it disarm criticism and grant us in- 
dulgence in our task, to say, that the 



S. W. ADAMS. 73 

unexpected and sudden removal from 
this house of worship, has left us but lit- 
tle opportunity to magnify the historian's 
office. * * * * 

Before any attempt was made to col- 
lect the Baptist strength in this place, 
three societies had already been formed, 
in order of time, as follows: Trinity, in 
1816; First Presbyterian, in 1824; First 
Methodist Episcopal, in 1827. The last, 
however, consisted of but seven mem- 
bers. 

The first notice we obtain of this body, 
is that of a few and feeble company, con- 
vening in that venerable edifice of by- 
gone days, the Old Academy upon St. 
Clair street, which has been succeeded 
by a spacious structure. On November 
18th, 1832, Bev. Bichmond Taggart com- 
menced preaching in the aforesaid locali- 
ty. That house which had been the com- 
mon sanctuary for the worshipers of the 
village outside of Trinity, served the lit- 
tle band several months. Subsequently 



'74 MEMOIR OF 

they shifted from the Old Academy to the 
old red Court House that was, and thence 
to the habitation « of justice that now 
is. The Sabbath after the commence- 
ment of Bro. Taggart's labors, a sunrise 
prayer meeting was established and con- 
tinued for months. The congregation 
soon found the halls of the old seat of 
learning too narrow for its accommoda- 
tion. 

On January 13th, 1833, four candidates 
were ready for the ordinance of baptism, 
and submitted to the holy rite in yonder 
lake — an ample baptistery, heaven -fur- 
nished. Two of the number were ladies ; 
one of them is now a member of this 
church, and her example of obedience 
has since been followed by her com- 
panion and three children. The proprie- 
ty of assuming a permanent form was 
earnestly advocated, and to this end sev- 
eral conferences were held. At length a 
council was convened on the 16th of 
February, 1833, which, after mature de- 



S. W. ADAMS. 



75 



liberation, cordially recognized the twen- 
ty-seven persons who had adopted their 
covenant and articles of faith, as the 
First Baptist Church of Cleveland. The 
sermon on the occasion, was delivered 
by Eev. Moses Wares, of Columbia. The 
pastor extended the right hand of fellow- 
ship, and the Eev. T. B. Stephenson, 
of Euclid, delivered the charge to the 
church. Several of the original members 
still live to enjoy the privileges of the 
church, and among them the senior Dea- 
cons, Moses White and Benjamin Bouse, 
besides others, who have "borne the 
burden and heat of the day," to foster 
this interest and bring it to its present 
efficiency. Some have removed to other 
sections, and others have gone to receive 



their everlasting reward. 



It is due to mention in this connection 
the formation of a Sabbath school in the 
month of January of the same year, con- 
sisting of forty scholars. This powerful 
auxiliary to the church itself, has been 



76 MEMOIR OF 

supported with a high degree of energy 
to the present day. The sessions of the 
school have been at 9 o'clock in the 
morning the year round. Considering 
the soil cultivated, and the season select- 
ed for this purpose, it may be called em- 
phatically a morning seed-sowing. 

The church having now received of the 
great Captain of her salvation, "a ban- 
ner to be displayed because of truth," ac- 
cording to denominational usage, sought 
the first opportunity to obtain inter- 
course and fellowship with other church- 
es of our faith. The Eocky Eiver Asso- 
ciation, having been formed the year 
before, consisting of seven churches, with 
a total membership of 143, extended a 
welcome to the infant body in the au- 
tumn of 1833, September 28th. 

The letter sent with the delegates to 
the association, a neat manuscript copy 
of which is before me, shows the senti- 
ments, and exhibits the tone and spirit 
which have marked the church through 



S. W. ADAMS. 77 

the period of nearly a quarter of a cen- 
tury. It indorses the Sabbath School 
enterprise, and takes notice of the Bible 
class. It makes mention of conference 
and prayer meetings during the interval 
of Sabbaths, "to afford an opportunity 
for the passing stranger to stop and wor- 
ship with us." The necessities of a Col- 
lege, then newly planted in the State, 
were not forgotten, nor claims of Domes- 
tic and Foreign Missions disregarded. 
Thus early the channels of benevolence 
were opened, and the streams of liberal- 
ity have been coursing through them 
ever since, to water distant wastes, and 
render fertile various portions of the 
heritage of God, in the domains of this 
growing commonwealth. 

The list of added members at the sit- 
ting of the association in September fol- 
lowing, had reached to twenty-nine, eight 
of which number were received on pro- 
fession of faith, and twenty-one by letter; 
this, diminished by four dismissions and 



78 MEMOIR OF 

one deceased member, left the total 
number fifty- one. 

The lapse of a few months had brought 
a change in the pastoral relation, which 
had been honorably and profitably sus- 
tained by the retired incumbent. 

The Rev. Judah L. Richmond, sent out 
under the patronage of the American 
Baptist Home Mission Society, came to 
this charge and ministered to its wants, 
with commendable industry and great 
fidelity. His labors were of essential 
service in gaining auditors by pastoral 
visitation, and calling in many to the 
weekly ministrations of the word, who, 
without such attention, would have been 
left to the mercy of casual and occasional 
attendance. Though his term of minis- 
terial labor was not extended beyond 
nine months, he is still spoken of by the 
older members with affectionate remem- 
brance, and has proved himself a valu- 
able servant in the vineyard of our com- 



S. W. ADAMS. 79 

mon Lord, in an adjoining State (Penn- 
sylvania). 

The Key. E. F. Willey was liis successor 
in the pulpit, acting rather as a supply 
than a permanent pastor. His engaging 
qualities as a pulpit orator drew crowded 
audiences, which were held in the Court 
House now standing. The church and 
congregation began to feel most deeply 
the need of a permanent, instead of an 
uncertain and shifting tabernacle. The 
numerical strength of the church was ad- 
vanced to eighty-seven w x hile this incum- 
bent continued. After his labors termina- 
ted, a brief interval occurred, in which the 
Rev. Mr. Crane ministered to the people. 

The first great movement to provide 
for the growing membership of this spirit- 
ual family, was to erect a sanctuary suf- 
ficiently large to answer the necessities, 
not of a thriving village only, but one 
expanded and pushed into manhood, 
which had gained a population of about 
five thousand. It had served its minority 



80 MEMOIR OF 

in the year 1835. The swaddlings of in- 
fancy were now to be cast off for the 
more comely attire of a city. The germ 
of growth in the church was equally en- 
ergetic. Progress was then, and is now, 
a current law in the kingdom of grace. 
The time had come in which the society 
felt that it was due to herself to seek 
better quarters than School Rooms and 
Court Houses, between which she had 
alternated hitherto, and to provide such 
conveniences and fixtures as she could 
exclusively control. It was due to her, 
who was to become the mother of a nu- 
merous progeny, to furnish a home in 
which her offspring might be nurtured 
and brought to stalwart manhood. 

In response to the providential call, 
which now seemed to coincide with the 
words. of ancient prophecy, to wit, "En- 
large the place of thy tent, and let them 
stretch forth the curtains of thine habi- 
tations; spare not, lengthen thy cords, 
strengthen thy stakes," the brethren de- 



S. W. ADAMS. 81 

termined to arise and build a habitation 
for God. Accordingly they began; not, 
however, without great misgivings as to 
the result. The foundation of this edifice 
was laid in the season of 1834. The pre- 
valence of cholera proved a serious hin- 
drance to the progress of the work. At 
the close of the season, the walls had not 
ascended above the basement. Suspend- 
ing operations during the rigor of winter, 
the work was resumed in the Spring of 
1835, and vigorously prosecuted under 
the vigilant oversight of Deacon Benja- 
min Rouse, until the " head-stone there- 
of was brought," if not amid literal 
u shoutings, crying grace, grace unto it!" 
certainly with devout thanksgivings to 
God, that he had permitted a feeble band 
to pass through the struggle of building, 
and to behold the desire of their eyes, a 
finished sanctuary, awaiting the presence 
of God and his people. Whatever de- 
fects there may be now in the style and 
finish of this edifice, erected at a cost of 



82 MEMOIR OF 

S13,000, it was considered at its comple- 
tion, decidedly in advance of most houses 
of worship in the west, and the first in 
this new-born city, as to size, proportion, 
and commodiousness ; and we may add 
its location was deemed eligible beyond 
what actual experience has demonstra- 
ted. The growing inauspiciousness of 
the site has of later years plead for a 
removal. A singular incident here de- 
serves our notice, not as having had any- 
thing to do with the original selection of 
this spot. In the early days of the vil- 
lage when its worshipers were few, and 
this section was overrun with the second 
growth of forest saplings, one of the old- 
est members of this church, (Deacon 
Moses White), met with a Methodist 
brother, whose name is unknown, and 
seeking a retired place from the bustle of 
the town, where they could supplicate 
the blessing of God together, by acci- 
dent chose their "bower of prayer" very 
near this identical ground. This coinci- 



S. W. ADAMS. 83 

deuce of earlier and later designation to 
religious purposes, gives the reminis- 
cence a pleasant aspect, and of addition- 
al interest is it also, as the presage of 
fraternal intercourse which has hitherto 
subsisted in this community. 

The dedicatory services of the house, 
took place on the 25th of February, 1836. 
The sermon on the occasion was deliver- 
ed by the late Kev. Elisha Tucker, D. D., 
then Pastor of the Washington street 
Baptist Church, Buffalo, N. Y. The text 
was chosen from Psalm cxxii, 1, "I was 
glad when they said unto me, let us go 
into the house of the Lord." 

Prior to the occupancy of this temple, 
which was so much beyond the capacity 
of private abodes, of upper rooms, and 
meagre school houses, in which the socie- 
ty had sought accommodation, the breth- 
ren felt that it would be hazardous to 
enter it without preceding the event 
with earnest prayer. The small band 
might be seated in either corner of this 



84 MEMOIR OF 

roomy apartment, and there was just 
ground for fear, that they might expe- 
rience strange emotions when divided by 
a few yards, and find themselves lost in a 
large and empty sanctuary. Impelled by 
a deep sense of human want, and human 
weakness, that "except the Lord build 
the house, they labor in vain that build 
it," the members betook themselves to 
prayer and supplication. For this purpose 
they met on successive evenings for 
weeks continuously. They invited God's 
Spirit to occupy their hearts, before they 
attempted to occupy this house, about to 
be dedicated to his service. The effort 
was not fruitless, for while they were yet 
speaking, the Lord heard, and gave gra- 
cious answers in the conversion of sin- 
ners, as well as in the quickening of 
saints. As the results of this Divine vis- 
itation, about forty were added to the 
church by baptism. Blessed with a revi- 
val in its departure from the old academy 
and occupancy of this place, the church 



S. W. ADAMS. 85 

had an appreciating sense of its respon- 
sibilities, and sought to maintain a suit- 
able attitude before God. The com- 
mencement of divine service here was 
auspicious, and a blessed earnest of 
precious seasons, that have occurred 
with varying intervals to the conclusion 
of our gatherings within these walls this 
day. 

The changes of location, and of fresh 
recruits in spiritual soldiery, were accom- 
panied by another still. In April, 1836, 
a call was extended to Eev. Levi Tucker, 
then of West Philadelphia, Pa., a brother 
of popular pulpit gifts, and also of suc- 
cess in the ministry. The call was ac- 
cepted, and in June following he entered 
fully upon his labors. 

A good degree of prosperity attended 
his labors. An extensive work of grace, 
however, did not take place until the 
winter of 1840. The records of the church 
show that this was a year of the right 
hand of the Most High. 



36 MEMOIR OF 

Among the interesting passages enter- 
ed in the annals of the church, we find 
this in the hand writing of brother Wil- 
liam Chard, recently gone to his rest. 
The allusion is to a meeting held upon 
New Year's Eve, 1839. He notes, "A 
most solemn silence pervaded the room 
during the departure of the old, and the 
commencement of the new year." From 
the tokens of Divine favor, the brethren 
were induced to continue meetings for 
many evenings in succession. In the 
frequent reception of members subse- 
quently, it was observed that several 
dated their conviction of sin, to the 
memorable session of midnight devotion, 
where all the saints assembled, knelt in 
solemn and silent prayer for God's bless- 
ing. Many who now hear me, will be 
borne back over the intervening space 
of fifteen years, and revive with the vivid- 
ness of yesterday, the spectacle which 
moved them to tears of penitence, while 
it moved angelic hosts with ecstatic joy. 



S. W. ADAMS. 87 

Names familiar to the pastor, were at 
that time entered upon the list of mem- 
bers. In groups of ten, fifteen and 
eighteen, a hand now reposing in the 
grave faithfully registered the reception 
of willing converts to the fellowship of 
this body, interspersing those records 
with couplets of sacred poetry, and brief 
passages of thanksgiving to God, and fer- 
vent supplications for continued favor. 
" We know not how to express our grati- 
tude to the Great Head of the Church for 
this day's privilege," writes he, on an oc- 
casion when thirty-six were baptized, and 
which some present may well recollect 
as the 9th of February. Two weeks later, 
thirty-four made open profession of their 
faith in Jesus. A spectacle was present- 
ed which had not been before witnessed 
in this house, viz : that of extending the 
right hand of fellowship to sixty individ- 
uals. On another occasion fifty-eight re- 
ceived the same fraternal welcome. 
The accessions by baptism were more. 



88 MEMOIR OF 

during the year 1840 than prior to, or 
since that time, reaching the number of 
one hundred and thirty-seven. 

This season of unparalleled thrift, was 
succeeded by three years in which the 
church remained nearly stationary, as to 
numbers. Members were received both 
by letter and on profession, but the re- 
duction by dismissions, deaths, and oth- 
erwise, was greater than the increase. 
The whole number received during the 
pastorate of Dr. Tucker, was four hun- 
dred and thirty-three, two hundred and 
twenty-nine of whom were by baptism, 
and two hundred and four by letter. His 
resignation was tendered November 18th, 
1842, and in December he left to take 
charge of the Washington Street Baptist 
Church, Buffalo, N. Y. 

The Rev. J. H. Walden, an able and 
successful minister, accepted a call ex- 
tended to him April 24th, 1843, and en- 
tered permanently upon his labors June 
4th ensuing. A season of revival was 



S. W. ADAMS. 89 

enjoyed under his earnest labors in the 
winter following. A large number made 
profession of faith in Christ. Seventy- 
one united by baptism, during the first 
year of his ministry with the church. 
The balance of the time was marked by 
no unusual display of divine power. 

In May 25th, 1846, Brother Walden 
gave notice of his intention to vacate the 
pastoral office, to take effect in the ap- 
proaching September or October. As the 
matter was made discretionary with the 
pastor, to leave at any time prior to Sep- 
tember, should it be his wish, he closed 
his labors June 14th, to enter a promising 
field in the city of Troy, N. Y. The re- 
ceptions by baptism during this pastor- 
ate were about one hundred, by letter 
eighty-eight The numerical strength at 
the commencement of his ministry here 
was two hundred and eighty, at the close 
three hundred and two. The dismissions 
by letter and otherwise, were unusually 
numerous. 

F 



90 MEMOIR OF 

In October 4th, 1846, the present in- 
cumbent was invited to assume the pas- 
toral relation, which was soon accepted, 
and entered upon the second Sabbath in 
November following. For the past few 
years, the history of the church has been 
quite uniform. There have not been ad- 
ditions either by baptism or by letter 
so great as during the ministrations of 
Brethren Tucker and Walden. There 
have been no seasons of revivals, equal 
in extent to those witnessed in 1836, 1840, 
1841 and 1843, taking the statistics of the 
church as an exponent. We record with 
grateful acknowledgments, that refresh- 
ing seasons have been witnessed. The 
winter and spring of 1849-'52-54, and 
last but not least, the present year of our 
Lord. These periods have been charact- 
erized by stillness and reflection, rather 
than by stir and transient excitement ; 
insomuch, that like the tides of the sea, 
we can scarcely mark the point of their 
influx and efflux. 



S. W. ADAMS 91 

The speaker would fail to render justice 
to his task, not to mention the efforts of 
this body to colonize and establish per- 
manent interests in this expanding city. 
For many years past, there has been an 
eye to this demand of emphatically mis- 
sionary work. During the pastorate of 
my worthy predecessor, and either at 
the instance of his wise suggestion, or of 
some others, in w^hich hint he concurred, 
a Sabbath school was established near 
the site of the Erie Street Baptist Church, 
as early as 1845, drawing its corps of 
teachers mainly from this people. Like 
the ancient tabernacle in the wilderness, 
and like this society in its infant history, 
it was migratory in its character. Its 
doors were first thrown open on the cor- 
ner of Erie and Eagle streets, then upon 
the corner of Kinsman and Erie, till at 
last it pitched a stationary tent on the 
corner of Erie and Ohio streets. 

The germ, small as it was in its incep- 
tion, has pushed forth its trunk and 



92 MEMOIR OF 

branches into the ample dimensions of 
a full-grown tree. Numerically it stands 
at the head of Sabbath schools in our de- 
nomination in the State. 

This has been the nucleus also for the 
infant Zion that has there spread her 
banners to the breeze, a sturdy child at 
birth. The colony from the mother 
church, consisting of a little over forty 
at first, were dismissed to establish this 
interest. In the lapse of a few months, 
upwards of twenty others were dismissed 
to join the same body. 

The record of the parting scene of this 
company, is treasured up in the archives 
of the church. One evening sufficed not 
to give vent to the gushing emotions 
that came welling up from the bosom of 
mother and daughter. The parting em- 
brace was one of mutual love, and while 
each wept for the severance of ties that- 
had long existed in tender endearment, 
they exchanged salutations of peace, and 
bade each other God-speed in the race of 



S. W. ADAMS. 93 

Christian duty. Going out with the cor- 
dial consent, ardent prayers, and liberal 
aid of the parent church, and above all, 
the enriching smiles of God, the enter- 
prise has not proved a barren one. For- 
tunate in the selection of her shepherd, 
Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, whose rare endow- 
ments seldom meet in one individual, 
the little colony has, under his powerful 
ministrations, become nearly equal to 
the parent body, while the weekly con- 
gregation is among the largest, if not the 
largest of evangelical orders in the city. 

The Third Baptist Church has been 
constituted for over two years, to which 
this body yielded up some fifteen of her 
members, and among them one of her 
officers, ( Hanford Conger ). The past 
winter has been one of thrift to this in- 
lant branch, and under the leadership of 
its present faithful and judicious pastor, 
Rev. S. B. Page, gives promise of useful- 
ness and commanding influence. Al- 
ready they come hovering around these 



94 MEMOIR OF 

baptismal waters, and prompt us to in- 
quire, in the words of Isaiah, " Who are 
these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves 
to their windows ?" 

Nor is it now deemed that church-ex- 
tension has reached its utmost limit. 
Another Sabbath school has been organ- 
ized upon St. Clair street, near Clinton 
Park, and a brother, whose liberality has 
told effectively for many years, makes 
the generous tender of a lot, for the 
erection of a house of worship, whenever 
the exigencies of the case shall require it. 

Having now taken a bird's-eye view of 
this church, and the vines that have been 
planted by her care, it remains only to 
advert to a few things farther, and to ask 
in the summary review, " What hath God 
wrought ?" 

Let me invite these venerable fathers, 
whose citizenship in this locality runs 
back of the origin of this church, and 
with one (Deacon Moses White) before 
me, to a period prior to the existence of 



S. W. ADAMS. 95 

any church organization in this place, to 
ascend with me, a mount of vision, that 
commands a sweep of twenty-two years. 
To-day we take up the language of the 
Prince of Prophets, and almost to exact 
literalism, it suits our numerical history, 
"A little one shall become a thousand." 
Into the membership of this body about 
nine hundred and sixty-five have been 
received, four hundred and forty-two of 
whom have been admitted by baptism. 
There have been honorable dismissions 
to the number of three-hundred and sev- 
enty-five, a larger number than have been 
enrolled at any one time. Nearly one 
hundred and forty-seven have, for some 
cause, proved unworthy of continued fel- 
lowship. A still larger number, one hun- 
dred and sixty, have left us in profound 
ignorance of their history. To employ 
the dialect suited to spiritual soldiery, 
engaged in continued onsets upon the 
enemy, they are neither among the sur- 
vivors, nor the slain, nor the wounded, 



96 MEMOIR OF 

but the missing. Our present number is 
two hundred and ninety-two. You, who 
once cast in your lot with a feeble num- 
ber, can behold now, not two, but three 
bands, and the feeblest is stronger than 
you then were. 

What hath God wrought in the preven- 
tion of discord, and the prevalence of 
unity and brotherly love ! 

What hath he wrought in the enlarge- 
ment of your earthly resources, blessing 
you in basket, and in store, in the city, 
and in the field, in your coming in and 
going out ! Thus you have been able to 
relieve yourselves of an oppressive debt 
that was preying upon you for years, and 
retarded not a little the prosperity of 
the church. 

Not the least tribute of gratitude may 
arise, that besides finding for yourselves 
a peaceful home in the bosom of a united 
church, you have witnessed children com- 
ing to enjoy the privilege of a seat at 
the spread banquet, and you have evi- 



S. W. ADAMS. 97 

dence that " they have received the 
spirit of adoption, whereby they cry 
Abba, Father." What significance speaks 
forth in the workings of the Divine hand, 
that kindred dear, who have been led to 
this sanctuary from their earliest years, 
to-day, before they bid farewell to these 
walls, enter with willing footsteps into 
these baptismal waters. That which has 
for years been prayed for, you are this 
day permitted to witness. Here we may 
raise our Ebenezer, with the inscription, 
" Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." 

Nor is it those only, who have bowed 
at family altars, that have found a wel- 
come abode here, but those who were 
once accustomed to habitual neglect of 
the House of God — some who had once, 
only a few years since, no relish for these 
services, are now delighted to say, each 
for himself, 

" One day, amid the place 
Where Christ, my Lord, has been, 

Is sweeter than ten thousand days 
Of pleasure and of sin." 



98 MEMOIR OF 

No human power could have wrought 
miracles like these. We own in truth,, 
: - The Lord hath done great things for us ; 
whereof we are glad." 

From the bosom of this church, a broth- 
er (F. Tolhurst) has recently gone to 
New Mexico as a missionary, and is now 
stationed at Santa Fe, with his compan- 
ion and a lady-assistant in the family. 

God has wrought other changes in the 
course of twenty-two years. Just sixty 
have rested from their labors, among 
them, and the last borne hence from 
this sanctuary, was one of its office bear- 
ers, Deacon John Case. Dust once cher- 
ished, because the habitation of congenial 
spirits, now mingles with its kindred in 
the silent sepulchre. Here is an inherit- 
ance to which many of us have been 
made the sorrowful heirs; but through 
the glory of their living and final 
triumphs, the now sainted have shed a 
lustre behind them, alike for our com- 
fort and instruction ; ancl it consoles us 



S. W. ADAMS. 99 

to know, that our loss is their gain. 
How many of these departures have been 
sanctified to the living, eternity must 
disclose. 

Standing on the verge of our adieu to- 
this place, whence our dead have been 
carried, let me ask what numbers have 
been laid in the grave for a resurrection 
harvest, while you, the survivors, are 
spared by Divine mercy ? Had I this 
morning for my auditors those only over 
whose lifeless remains I have performed 
the rites of burial, since my labors began 
with you, by no means a small congrega- 
tion would they be, amounting to two 
hundred and sixty-three. 

This gradual migration to the cemetery 
admonishes all that they must sooner or 
later take their leave of all earthly tem- 
ples, whether plain or gorgeous, humble 
or magnificent. May the means of grace 
be so improved in this, and in another 
which we are soon to occupy, that we 
shall not be debarred admittance to that 



100 MEMOIR OF 

which is not made with hands, and where 
worshipers once entered, shall never de- 
part. 

Were it required of the pastor to note 
the measures which in addition to the 
ordinary ministrations of the word, are 
particularly productive of benefits to the 
church, promoting a healthful growth, 
perfecting its own members, and winning 
to duty's path, the wanderer, and to the 
Saviour's cross, the sinner, his reply 
would be : — 

1st, The Sabbath School It is a po- 
tent auxiliary of the church. It borders 
on the territory of this holy domain. It 
is a kind of ante-room to the inner court. 
It gives employ to the members. 

2nd. Our Monthly Covenant Meetings. 
These hallowed sessions of our body, 
vouchsafe to us an escape from the paral- 
ysis of worldliness and the lulling quiet 
of a lifeless formality. These seasons 
have alreadv become occasions of attrac- 



S. W. ADAMS. 101 

tion. Saints are drawn there by the force 
of love. They uniformly go with a quick- 
ened pace, that they may be in at the 
feast ; and sinners are there to take their 
bearings for the port of peace. They 
come to learn what they feel reluctant to 
inquire out in personal discourse. 

3rd. Our seasons of Fasting and Pray- 
er have been serviceable. 

4th. I mention the youth's prayer and 
conference meeting, held semi-weekly. 
In the autumn of 1849 it was established, 
and to the present day it has maintained 
no doubtful existence. The original num- 
ber in attendance was not large, but the 
chosen room for assemblage now lacks 
capacity for those who gather. An early 
visit will not always insure a commodious 
seat. In this garden of youthful graces 
are germs for a heavenly soil. Flowers 
have already blossomed there 

" In fragrance, and in beauty, bright and vernal," 



102 MEMOIR OF 

*and some have been transplanted to 
those 

" Everlasting gardens, 

Where angels walk and seraphs are the wardens, [portal, 
Where every flower, brought safe through death's dark 
Becomes immortal." 

In taking leave of my task, let me en- 
join the same diligence in the use of 
these means of grace, wherever we may 
meet in days to come. Remember, no 
eligible site, or inviting temple, can su- 
persede the necessity of prayer and vigi- 
lance. Our reliance is on Christ for par- 
don and justification ; on the Holy Spirit 
for regeneration and sanctification, in 
obedience to His divine commands. 

Before another quarter of a century 
shall have completed its cycle, many in 
this communion will have exchanged 
their seats below for seats above. 

A bitter reflection will pursue you, sin- 
ner, to whose ears these walls have so 
long echoed a proclaimed but neglected 
gospel. Sad will it be when in the ordeal 



S. W. ADAMS. 103 

of final review, an Omniscient and Om- 
nipotent Judge shall force the uncon- 
scious materials of this edifice to be swift 
witnesses against you. Seek to avert an 
event so awful. Let the sweet accents 
of mercy, inviting you to a Saviour's feet, 
find a response from a penitent heart and 
submissive will. Be earnest and diligent 
now to seize the Gospel hope, lest the 
last shadows of this sanctuary fall upon 
you impenitent, and through confirmed 
sin, you never cross the threshold of the 
heavenlv sanctuarv. 



IV. 

THE CHRISTIAN PATRIOT— SERVICE IN THE CHRIST- 
IAN COMMISSION— NARRATIVE OF W. W. WRIGHT. 

From the foregoing discourse, it ap- 
pears evident that this beloved pastor 
had proved himself " A good minister of 
Jesus Christ." Though the particulars are 
not given, yet the result was eminently 
acceptable and satisfactory to his people, 
and fully justified the language used in 
extending to him the invitation to the 
pastorate "That his coming among us 
was of the Lord." 

Nothing further is needed to show that 
great progress had been made by the 
church under his ministry, than that it 
w r as enabled to leave the old house, and 
take possession of the one it now occu- 
pies, and that this w r as done without in- 
curring a debt to any considerable extent, 



106 MEMOIR OF 

and that from this time it took position 
among the leading churches of the Bap- 
tist denomination. 

For further account of the pastor and 
pastorate, the reader is referred mainly 
to the commemorative discourse. 

A large volume could be filled with in- 
teresting matter relating to our friend, 
but that would be foreign to the object 
of this memoir. This testimony, how- 
ever, should be expressly borne, Dr. 
Adams was not only a faithful Christian 
minister, but he was a true Christian 
patriot. It can be safely said, that he 
never failed during the terrible struggle 
for the "life of the nation," when offering 
prayer, to remember his country. Those 
privileged with sitting under his ministry 
well remember how often and feelingly 
he alluded in his discourses and remarks 
to the condition of his country, and the 
sympathy he expressed for its defenders. 

As nearly the last work of his life was 
devoted to those who were suffering for 






S. W. ADAMS. 107 

the defence of the Union, a brief narra- 
tive is here given of his service in the 
Christian Commission. This narrative 
has been prepared by W. W. Wright, 
Esq., one of his brethren, who accom- 
panied him in this service, in pursuance 
of a previous appointment. 

No one interested in what relates to 
this beloved pastor, can fail to read the 
narrative with deep interest. 

NARRATIVE 
June 7th, 1864. I met brother Adams at the 
railway station, on our departure for Washington. 
That clay I enjoyed much interesting religious con- 
versation, and I felt richly paid for what self- 
denial I might make, or what labor I might bestow 
by the undivided, constant and continuous inter- 
course I had with him, I was happy to feel that 
I could occupy him without fear of trespassing 
upon his pressing duties. It is almost needless to 
say that our conversation was of a religious char- 
acter, for his mind and heart seemed to dwell in 
that sphere. We conversed upon the object of our 
mission and our country, for who that loved God 
or country, could help it ? 



108 MEMOIR OF 

When not talking, he was reading, and his book 
was the Word of God ; and I seriously inquired 
of myself, why that Book, with which he was so 
familiar, could afford him such constant interest. 
The secret was that the hidden treasure of that 
Book had been so long his daily food, that he 
was famished without it. Brother Adams drank 
deep from that fountain of living water. 

But surely, I thought, night would bring rest 
He conversed freely till about ten o'clock, and 
he was like a book. I had only to turn over the 
leaves of inquiry to learn what I sought to know. 
He seldom volunteered remark, and that suited 
me, for I was free to draw from him just such 
information as I wished. Sometimes I would 
compel him to lead conversation, by continued 
silence, and I found I was not the loser by it, for 
he invariably touched upon something I wanted 
to know, but had not thought of. So passed the 
time with him, and one day was the index of his 
life. 

I said I thought night would bring repose. Per- 
haps it did, but nearly the first remark in the 
morning, was upon a text of Scripture, irom which, 
as he remarked, he had blocked out the skeleton 
of a discourse. He briefly related the chief points 
of interest, and in due time, his people had 
the whole subject presented to them. So, in the 



S. W. ADAMS 109 

midnight hour, lie had been preparing a sermon 
for his people. Verily, I said to myself, you are a 
faithful watchman on the walls of Zion. 

We were then near Philadelphia, where we 
arrived at ten A. M. We went immediately to 
the rooms of the Commission, where we spent 
some two hours, Brother Adams writing two let- 
ters home, suggesting something to our local 
board. That evening we reached Washington. 
There we found many brother delegates from 
different parts of the land, gathered for the same 
purpose, and representing nearly all denomina- 
tions, inspired by a similar spirit and desire to 
serve the good cause. 

House No. 500 H street would not hold one half 
of the delegates, and a large tent opposite was 
not sufficient to accommodate all, as this was 
considered a camp of distribution. 

These head-quarters were under the manage- 
ment of our most excellent Brother Abbott, who, 
I believe, will ever live in the affectionate remem- 
brance of every brother that met him. He was 
assisted by several excellent brothers in the dis- 
charge of his pressing duties, who extended to 
delegates a very warm and cordial greeting. I 
shall never forget with what kindness we were 
received at the mission rooms at Washington. 

At the hour of retiring Brother Adams was upon 



110 MEMOIR OF 

Ms knees before his cot, in presence of the dele- 
gates, who were occupied in talking, reading, 
writing, and in other things. It was the aim of 
his life, that his influence should be felt by his 
Christian example. 

The next morning, after breakfast, singing and 
prayer, it being the 9th, Brother Abbott prepared 
a list of delegates to send down to the front, the 
army base then being at White House. Being near 
Brother Abbott, I had an opportunity to hear the 
nature of the applications of delegates who were 
anxious to be assigned to the front, for it was es- 
teemed quite desirable to be appointed to that 
field, rather than to remain at the hospitals in 
Washington, though delegates were at that time 
equally needed there, as with the army. Some 
were professedly willing to labor anywhere they 
could be most useful, but were, at the same time, 
quite sure their services were required nearer 
Richmond, as their time was very limited, and 
they were anxious to return home in possession 
of interesting facts, to lecture, and raise means for 
the Commission. Perhaps this was so, but I can- 
not help admitting that the opportunities afforded 
of seeing the army, and the scenes of its conflicts, 
hal a strong influence on me, and to have remain- 
ed in Washington to labor in the hospitals, would 
have been great self-denial. But, being a lay del- 



S. W. ADAMS. Ill 

egate, I was naturally sent to the front, as the 
labor there was less ministerial, and more active 
than in Washington, I found my name on the list 
to go down, without having expressed any prefer- 
ence. I immediately requested Brother Abbott 
to acid Brother Adams' name to the list, but he 
said his labor as a minister would be more de- 
sirable at the hospitals there ; and Brother Adams 
leaving himself so entirely at his disposal in the 
disinterested clesirj to serve the good cause, I 
was obliged to leave him there. I left him with 
great reluctance, for I had hoped and expected to 
labor with him while I was away. I had antici- 
pated his pure influence and example, and had 
hoped for the happiest effect upon myself. I never 
did realize and so fully appreciate Brother Adams, 
until by contrast with other men and ministers, I 
saw the full measure of his worth. Some good 
Christian ministers, when away from home, feel 
to give way to mirthful recreation, and even at 
times carry it to the extent, that they meet their 
own disapproval. But the greater number main- 
tain their usual quiet, calm and happy manner, and 
shed a sweet influence on all around, and you feel 
that it is heavenly to be near and with them. 
Brother Adams, I can truly say, partook more 
fully of the Christian character, than any minister 
I met while I was away, and I met and mingled 



112 MEMOIR OF 

with many. Leaving Brother Adams on the 9th, 
I went to the army base, which was at White 
House on the Pomunky riyer, twenty miles from 
the besieged city. The following week the army 
moved around to City Point on the James river, 
and as it would be some days before the new base 
would become established, with many of the dele- 
gates I returned to Washington, and found Brother 
Adams actively engaged at the Harwoocl Hospital. 
He appeared happy, and gave me many detailed 
accounts of his labor, and many interesting facts 
relating to those he had labored with and minister- 
ed to. While remaining a clay in Washington, I 
visited a few military posts near the city, among 
which were Ports Lincoln, Bunker Hill, Saratoga 
and Totten, where were stationed our own Cleve- 
land regiment, the 150th, While there, Col. Hay- 
ward commanding, requested me to invite Brother 
Adams to come out and preach to them on the 
Sabbath following. He cordially accepted the in- 
vitation, and officiated for them at that time. 

I had hoped to remain and labor with him at 
the hospital for the remainder of the time, and had 
so arranged with him, but passes through the 
lines, which had been suspended for some days, 
being granted, I was, the second morning after my 
arrival, detailed again for the army before Peters- 
burg. I should, at this time, have insisted on 



S. W. ADAMS. 113 

Brother Adams accompanying me, but his appoint- 
ment to preach on the coming Sabbath forbade it. 
I obtained his promise, however, to come down af- 
terwards at the first opportunity. But the attach- 
ment he had formed and the interest he felt for those 
to whom his daily labor was assigned, detained him 
about three weeks, before he came down to City 
Point. I was stationed at Bermuda Hundred, 
which, at that time, was in General Butler's de- 
partment, and did not leam of his being at the 
Point, till a clay or two after his arrival. 

Friday evening, when I learned of his being- 
there, a severe battle was raging at the front, and 
being at that time at Gen. Grant's Head- Quarters, 
Gen. Rawlings, his Chief of Staff, told me the at- 
tack was from the 18th army corps, in our depart - 
partment, I hastened back to Bermuda, to go up 
to the field hospital of that corps, early next morn- 
ing, which we reached just as the train of ambu- 
lances came from the field, freighted with about 
two hundred and fifty of our wounded. Brave fel- 
lows ! How precious they seemed as they placed 
their arms around our necks, to assist themselves 
in getting out of the ambulances, to the rude but 
friendly hospital tents. The day was exceedingly 
warm, and our labors with the dead, dying, and 
wounded were severe. 

Not until the Mondav following did I reach the 



114 MEMOIR. 

general hospital at City Point, and then only to 
find that Brother Adams had left the day before, 
on the Government Mail Boat for Washington. I 
learned there, that he had been prostrated by a 
severe attack of bowel complaint, and had been 
unable to sit up, but little of the time he had been 
there. I think he did not find any delegates of 
his acquaintance ; and at the Ohio relief tent, Miss 
Lucy Seaman, who had so long and faithfully 
nursed many sick and wounded soldiers, was away 
Had she been there with her care and treatment, 
he might have completed his term of labor, which 
had nearly expired. 

At Washington, on my return, I learned that he 
merely called as he went through, unfit for further 
labor, and it was deemed necessary that he 
should return home, as carefully and comfortably 
as possible. 

I called on him at his house the Saturday even- 
ing following, and found him much restored but 
quite weak. The following Sunday evening I heard 
him report to the officers and friends of the Chris- 
tian Commission, at a meeting held in his own 
church, his experience and labors in the hospital 
and field, and never do I remember of hearing so- 
moclest, feeling and unassuming report from so 
faithful, efficient and devoted a brother. 

May his memory long remain bright, as his life 
was pure. 



V 



CLOSING LABOKS — LAST SERMON— DEATH. 

Ox the return of Dr. Adams from his 
service in the Commission he found an 
unusual amount of labor to perform, in 
consequence of his long absence from 
home, and also because of the continued 
absence, of several of his brethren in the 
ministry. I cannot pause here to refer to 
this labor, for reasons already given. But 
it has been deemed most appropriate to 
furnish in this Memoir, his last sermon in 
full. It is believed that no one can read 
it carefully without being greatly im- 
pressed and benefited. It would seem 
thatin delivering this discourse, he had 
Eternity clearly in view, and that he 
desired to admonish all whom he could, to 
make an immediate preparation for it. 

While the writer will not enter upon 



116 MEMOIR OF 

any analysis, or review of this discourse, 
he cannot forbear earnestly inviting the 
reader, to solemnly ponder the last words 
of public instruction, admonition, and 
warning, ever given by this faithful am- 
bassador of Christ. This sermon was 
delivered by Dr. Adams in his own church, 
Sept. 11th, and in Strongville on the 14th. 
Immediately after preaching this dis- 
course on the 11th of Sept. Dr. Adams was 
taken ill, and on the 27th, he bade adieu 
to earth, and passed to his home on High. 

LAST SEEMON. 

Heb. 3 : 7, 8. " Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, 
To-day if ye will hear his yoice, Harden not your 
hearts, as in the proyocation in the day of temptation 
in the wilderness. " 

We are furnished in this passage with 
evidence, both that the Old Testament 
scriptures, were familiar to the writer of 
this epistle, and that they were accepted 
as inspired. There is no one of all the 
epistles, that is so completely engrafted 



S. W. ADAMS. 117 

upon the old stock, as this one. The 
passage before us is a quotation from the 
95th Psalm, and in that Psalm it is 
grounded upon an historical event. We 
have in these passages as it were, the; 
links of an unbroken chain. The sum 
and substance of it, were appropriate in 
the days of Moses, of David, and of Paul. 
If the nature of man was so essentially 
the same during all the periods of these- 
men, we may argue the fitness of the pas- 
sage now. 

Nor does the Jewish cast of the epistle 
divest the passage before us of its adapt- 
edness to a Gentile audience. Meridian 
lines and geographical limits have nothing 
peculiar in them, to render an appeal of 
this nature untimely. On the shores of 
the Mediterranean, and of our own beau- 
tiful lake, it is equally pertinent. 

It will claim a dispassionate examina- 
tion, of all who are conscious of having 
deferred compliance with the exhortation 
hitherto. 



118 MEMOIR OF 

The fact that Scripture deals so much 
with pungent exhortation, should be to 
us all an intimation that as much as we 
naturally disrelish it, we really need it. 
Near the closing strain of this Epistle, 
Paul calls on the disciples with much 
pathos and affection, upon this very point. 
"And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the 
word of exhortation." Tolerate this form 
of speech, consider it appropriate. We 
understand the term 'hear' in the sense 
of oley. It is in this sense that the 
prophet Isaiah, employs the word. "In- 
cline your ear, and come unto me ; hear, 
and your soul shall live." To turn away 
the ear is to refuse obedience. Thus the 
grave record is made of a disobedient 
people. "But my people would not 
hearken to my voice; and Israel would 
none of me." 

To give ear then, implies something 
more than to obtain an intellectual con- 
ception of God's will, concerning those 
whom He addresses. It is to accept His 



S. W. ADAMS. 119 

commands, to adopt His counsels, and to 
abide in all His directions. 

I. Let us consider what is implied in 
the text. 

The expression, " after so long a time," 
conveys to us the idea of a period of for- 
bearance; a period in which God had a 
right to expect obedience, and compliance 
with His counsels and commands; but 
during all which, he obtained no encour- 
agement in the service of the heart. It 
may have been a season of deep trial to 
the Sovereign Ruler, one in which He had 
often to bear with offenses, with neglects, 
and insults to His authority. The grounds 
of honor, respect, reverence, and love 
existed, but no fruit appeared to corres- 
pond to them, in the subjects of the divine 
government. The period itself may have 
been more or less in duration. Or, it 
may not have consisted so much in length 
of time, as in measure of privilege. The 
importance of a reasonable opportunity 
to secure an inestimable privilege, may 



120 MEMOIR OF 

be relatively great. It is a long time to 
set before the mind, a prize which 
embraces all of heaven, its glories, its 
happiness, its employments, and its asso- 
ciations, though it be narrowed down to 
a few years. There were several occasions 
upon which the Israelites offered strong 
provocation to God. 

Once they murmured for want of bread, 
and had manna given them from heaven. 
—Ex, 16 : 1-4. 

They provoked God a second time by 
murmuring for want of water, and inso- 
lently said, "Is the Lord among us or 
not?" Ex. 17:2-9. Then they offended 
God by worshiping the golden calf; and 
the fourth time they did so, by murmuring 
or flesh to eat. 

But the greatest of all was their refusing 
to go into Canaan, from Kadesh-Barnea, 
when it was offered to them, as their 
privilege. This was the hitter provoca- 
tion, as the term here implies. It showed 
a marvellous distrust of God : by reason 



S. W. ADAMS. 121 

of this rejection of privilege, they were 
doomed to wander in the wilderness for 
the space of about forty years, until all of 
that generation had passed away, save 
Caleb and Joshua, "faithful found, among 
the faithless." 

To renew the proffer of heavenly rest, 
after this long forbearance, was an 
instance of drvine patience, not to be 
looked for in man. The proffer can 
scarcely be made to any company of men 
or persons, but, it must imply that it has 
been repeatedly made. Holding out the 
priceless boon to this assembly of hearers, 
I should do the case injustice, not to 
admit that the same thing has been again 
and again before you. 

To many, though young in years, it has 
been presented, till we fear it can hardly 
be done in a new phase. 

Secondly, the style of address implies 
that the heart is prone to delay its com- 
pliance with divine proffers. 

Of all other matters which claim re- 

H 



122 



MEMOIR OF 



flection, and which call for prompt de- 
cision, there is none so likely to be post- 
poned till the last, as "personal religion. 

Men everywhere seem to act upon the 
presumption, that it is safe to wait, and 
that God will tolerate delay; that other 
things may claim the precedence in time, 
though they know that nothing can claim 
precedence in value and final issue. 

Starting with such delusive premises, 
the practical deductions must be far re- 
moved from truth. There is no man, how- 
ever infatuated he may be, but would be 
shocked with the logic which his own 
conduct involves. He is jeopardizing 
heaven, and a state of holiness upon 
which heaven is suspended, and that, not 
for the brief space of one's earthly being, 
but for that unmeasured future which 
succeeds death ; for eternity ! oh, eternity ! 

Were there some compensations in 
the bargain, which procrastinators make, 
there would seem to be some extenua- 
tion of the folly, if not the guilt, which 



S. W. ADAMS. 123 

they incur. But all that can be present- 
ed, are disparaged by the side of the " one 
thing needful." But reasoning does not 
charm the heart out of delay; in the face 
of all that can be said, it still falls back 
upon it like a chronic habit. With ex- 
cuses or without them, the heart lingers 
in the toils of its own willing creation. 
It is too often snared by its own dreams, 
and effectually caught in the web which 
delays have woven for it. Oh, for the 
strength of Leviathan which can break 
every coil, and range free in his chosen 
element! Oh, for some potent art that 
would teach the heart to do at once what 
it prefers to dread, instead of delaying 
till all is lost. 

Thirdly 3 it is contained in this passage 
also, that by procrastination of duty, the 
heart becomes hard. It becomes more 
insensible, and more indifferent to the de- 
mands of God, and to all the interests 
involved in the great subject of salvation. 

A philosophical view of the human 



124 MEMOIR OF 

mind would bring us to this inevitable 
conclusion. Is it not so in all that we do 
and plan ? That which we determine not 
to do now, we feel less inclination to do 
at all; as the matter lies far oif in the un- 
real future, we gather no purpose, and ac- 
quire no strength to enter upon it. 

It is the near and present labor that 
awakens the mind and warms the heart 
for action. The work which you have 
laid out for the present week, is a work 
for the discharge of which you have 
already begun to prepare. 

Fourthly, it is clearly implied that the 
present available time is to be set over 
against a future period not available. 
To-day, or the present, may be used. 
God is now waiting to be gracious. In 
evidence of this, he grants the perusal of 
his gospel ; he gives the commission to 
his servants to go out and bid the rebel- 
lious to return to their allegiance to him. 

Nor is it alone in the appointed and 
extended means of grace, but in the ac- 



S. W. ADAMS. 125 

companying presence of the Holy Spirit, 
whose power gives efficacy to all other 
means employed. 

The now, which may be used, is placed 
over against the future uncertain, and to 
man unknown, the use of which must be 
doubtful, it is suspended on so many 
human contingencies ; life may not ex- 
tend to the hoped-for hour, or, should it 
be prolonged much beyond the looked 
for limit, it may be under circumstances 
not at all auspicious for the observance 
of God's command, to repent and believe 
the gospel. Reason may be dethroned 
long before the promised period shall 
arrive ; this boasted function of the mind 
may be suspended by the ravages of dis- 
ease. Or, if reason does not vacate her 
place, the mind may be wholly environed 
with pressing cares. Who can know the 
condition of the mind ten, twenty or 
thirty years hence? We have an in- 
stance of the miscalculation of a man, in 
the history of McDonald of Glencoe, chief 



126 MEMOIR OF 

of a small Highland clan, who lived by- 
pillage. McJan was the hereditary ap- 
pellation by which he was known. On 
the accession of William and Mary to 
the British throne, his clan with others, 
espoused the cause of the Jacobites. In 
1691 the authorities of Edinburgh issued 
a proclamation offering pardon to all who 
on or before the 31st of December in that 
year, should take the oath of allegiance 
to their majesties, and threatening the 
penalties of treason against all who 
should fail to take the oath. That he 
might be the last of the chiefs to yield, 
McJan deferred his submission to the 
last day. On the 31st of December he 
repaired to Fort William, with his prin- 
cipal vassals, and offered to take the 
oath ; no magistrate was there to admin- 
ister it, nor was there any within a great 
distance. According to the terms of the 
proclamation, his life and estate depend- 
ed upon his taking the oath upon that 
day ; he was, therefore, deeply distressed. 



S. W. ADAMS. 127 

With a kind letter from the Governor of 
the fort to the sheriff of Argyllshire, he 
set off for Inverary. Although it was in 
the depth of winter, and the passes 
through the mountains were obstructed 
by snow, yet McJan hastened on, and ar- 
rived at Inverary on the 6th of January. 
He besought the magistrate with tears, to 
administer the oath ; the sheriff hesitated, 
but finally received his submission, set- 
ting forth the peculiar circumstances of 
the case, in the certificate which he for- 
warded to Edinburgh. Mc Jan's enemies, 
concealing the certificate, and represent- 
ing to the king that he had not taken the 
oath as required in the proclamation, ob- 
tained the royal consent to enforce the 
penalty of treason, and by a baseness 
which proved them " sons of Belial," they 
accomplished the death of the Highland 
chief, though the greater part of his clan 
escaped. 

How disastrous was his delay! How 
easy it would have been for the chief, to 



128 MEMOIR OF 

have availed himself of the clemency of 
the king ! By a conspiracy of pride and 
shameful neglect, he laid the snare for 
his own ruin. 

Too many, through pride, refusing now 
to seek forgiveness of the offended Sover- 
eign, are putting far off that day of 
remission — a day, alas, which may never 
come. 

II. There are strong reasons which 
urge upon sinners the adoption of this 
armistice, and the acceptance of pardon 
through Jesus Christ, now. 

First. The present period is the only 
period of which you are certain. 

We can no more than call the moment 
ours, but it has fled — it is gone forever. 
And it is thus that man's being is hasten- 
ing to join the years already fled. True 
is it that the moment which we call our 
own, flies from us like the weaver's shuttle ; 
and even this is reduced to a point. True, 
we may conceive of a day, as representing 
a period longer or shorter, in which a 



S. W. ADAMS. 129 

given policy prevails ; thus we speak of a 
gospel day, signifying that while the state 
continues, pardon may be enjoyed, and 
heaven gained. 

But relatively, here, there is only an 
instant that belongs to us ; and can any 
one gifted with reason, deliberately 
exchange this for an uncertain moment, 
W'hich may be beyond the day of his 
death ? Will one dash the present prize 
to the earth, while in its place he satisfies 
himself with the vague and delusive hope 
of a future one ? Do we wonder at the 
pressing exhortation of the poet? 

" Seize, mortal! seize the transient hour ; 
Improve each moment as it flies : 
Life's a short summer — man a flower; 
He dies — alas ! — how soon he dies ! " 

Again, — the present time is the only 
one we are positively certain we can 
control. Age may come, it is true, or 
many years may be awarded the impeni- 
tent, but it depends upon many other 
things, whether length of days shall be a 



130 MEMOIR OF 

blessing. It will be necessary that one 
be able to control the mind and the body ; 
it demands no process of reasoning to 
show that men as they advance in years, 
are more and more the slaves of habit. 
They are more and more the victims of 
circumstances. Can the head of a nu- 
merous group of children, cast off all care 
and concern for them, at any moment? 
Can he disengage himself from them, and 
exclude himself in solitude, that he may 
give himself up to reflection upon any 
one theme or measure fraught with 
interest to his soul? Desirable as this 
may be to any one, how seldom does the 
instance occur in which it can be done? 

Does not every one find that his hours 
are more engrossed from year to year, if 
he be in the pursuit of a legitimate busi- 
ness? The industrious and frugal will 
find use for more time than is allotted 
them, even if all this be given up to 
secular affairs. There is no one whose 
experience does not confirm the remark 



S. W. ADAMS. 131 

that when men retire from business and 
professedly live a life of leisure, there are 
matters crowding upon them which will 
demand and receive attention. Then a 
postponement of the subject now is liable 
to the imminent hazard of postponement 
forever. 

But that which crowds upon us this 
moment more than any other thought 
from this passage, is, that delay produces 
hardness of heart ; it fosters indifference 
to the interests of the soul ; this follows 
by an inevitable law. Nothing is more 
fatal than this state of the mind. What 
an illustrious instance we have in the 
king of Egypt ; how numerous are the 
promises to let the people go and wor- 
ship in the wilderness, but w T ith each un- 
fulfilled pledge, came a confirmed indispo- 
sition to execute such a purpose at all. 
Delay in one so eminent in position, and 
with such resources to carry out his wish- 
es, was not dissimilar to what it is in 
every one in private life. It only be- 



132 MEMOIR. 

comes more conspicuous by the high re- 
lations of the distinguished official. Of 
what avail are opportunities, when the 
disposition to improve them is wanting? 
Of what benefit are days, and years, when 
there is no heart to turn them to advan- 
tage? All previous habits are arrayed 
against any change. " Can the Ethiopian 
change his skin, or the leopard his spots ? 
then may ye also do good, that are accus- 
tomed to do evil." 

Finally, from the theme discussed, we 
are led to view the present^ as of infinite 
moment, in contra distinction from the 
future. This should lead every one to 
be solicitous about the present, in its 
bearing upon the coming time. 

" Eternity is just at hand! 
And shall I waste my ebbing sand, 
And careless view departing day, 
And throw my inch of time away?" 



VI. 

FUNERAL SERVICES — CHURCH ACTION— ACTION OF 
CITY PASTORS. 

A committee of brethren having consul- 
ted as to the most appropriate manner of 
conducting the funeral obsequies, an- 
nounced that the funeral should be held 
on Friday, the 30th day of September, 
at three o'clock, P. M., under the super- 
vision of brother J. M. Hoyt — that the 
remains should be taken to the church at 
11 o'clock, where they might be viewed 
by the citizens of the city, and friends of 
the deceased, until the funeral exercises, 
should commence. 

This order was carefully observed, and 
at 11 o'clock the remains were conveyed 
to the church, accompanied by many 
friends, and carefully deposited in front 
of the desk, from which the deceased for 
so many years had faithfully preached the 



134 MEMOIR OF 

word and offered up prayer and made 
supplications for the people. Immediate- 
ly the aisles were filled by those anxious 
to take a farewell view of their friend, and 
to many, the clearest earthly friend. 
Large numbers availed themselves of the 
opportunity — many coming by families 
together, to view for the last time, all 
that then remained of the loved and 
faithful Pastor. The scene was most 
solemn and affecting. As the throngs 
passed along, deep sighs, and groans, and 
words of lamentation, were constantly 
audible — especially was this the case 
among those of the humbler walks of life, 
to whom the deceased had devoted so 
much of his labors. 

FUNERAL SERVICES. 

Singing by the choir, "Rest Spirit, Rest." 
Selections of Scripture read by Rev. Mr^. Mox- 

teith, of the Third Presbyterian Church, Job 14, 1st 

to the 12th : 

" Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full ot 

trouble." 



S. W. ADAMS 135 

John 11, 23d to the 36th: 

" Jesus saith unto her: Thy brother shall rise again." 

1st Cor. 15, 47th to the end of the chapter : 

"The first man is of the earth earthy, the second man is 
the Lord from heaven." 

Isaiah 49, 13th to the 17th : 

"Sing, heavens, and be joyful, earth, and break 
forth into singing, mountains." 

Hymn No. 1176. Read by Rev. Mr. Hoge, Pres- 
byterian. 

" Who are these in bright array; 
This exulting happy throng 
Round the altar night and day, 

Hymning one triumphant song?" 

t 

ADDRESS BY REV. F. TOLHURST, BAPTIST. 

Bro, S. B. Page being unable to reach here till a 
few minutes before the time of service, I am called 
upon to fill his place : 

We are informed that as the life of our dear Pas- 
tor, Friend and Brother, was ebbing away, and as 
the spirit was about to take its flight to be present 
with the Lord, with his dying strength he raised 
himself as best he could, and stretched his dying 
arm and feeble hand as high as he could possibly 
raise it and pointed upward. I thought it was a 
beautiful ending to his well spent life; he had always 
pointed us upward from the first day he came among 



136 MEMOIR OF 

us ; every act of his blameless life would teach us 
to look higher thau earth, for he was one of those 
whose " conversation is in heaven " and when his 
lips could no more obey his will, he pointed upward 
in death. " He being dead yet speaketh;" and I feel 
that we ought to obey his voice, and look upward 
to-day. Yes, if we look up toward that heavenly 
city, we hear a voice saying " I am he that liveth 
and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, 
and have the keys of hell and death." 

Dear brethren, let us look up for support. We 
are staggering under a heavy blow ; our dear pastor 
has fallen ; our hearts are overcome with sorrow ; 
shall we sink under this bereavement ? Shall we 
fall down and none to help us ? No ! God hath said 
" when thou passest through the waters I will be 
be with thee," Jesus, the great head of the church 
still lives, and declares " I am with you alway ;" 
his promises are exceeding great and precious, and 
his powerful arm can support under our severest 
trials. We know not the depth of our loss to-day ; 
time will show us how great this trouble is that we 
have to bear ; weeks, months and years will probably 
confirm the fact that we are sadly bereaved, but we 
need not sink; God's grace is sufficient for us. We 
may then lean on Jesus, and look up to him to suppor 
us to-day. We must look up also for consolation ; 
we need something that earthly friends cannot im- 



S. W. ADAMS. 137 

part to-day, something more than we can gather 
from one another. We are told that when Lazarus 
was dead the Jews came to comfort the mourning 
sisters, but "Martha, as soon as she heard that 
Jesus was coming, went and met him." O yes, we 
need the consolation that Jesus only can give us, 
the love that he bestows, to bind up our hearts; 

'.'Jesus wept," his tears are ended, 
But his heart is still the same, 
Kinsman, Friend and Elder Brother, 
Is his everlasting name. 

Jesus who can love like thee 
The weeping one of Bethany." 

He can be touched with the feeling of our infirm- 
ities. " He was in all points tempted like as we 
are." Not many months ago in the north of 
England one of those terrible accidents happened in 
the coal mine by which so many wi-re killed, and as 
soon as the news reached the Court at Windsor, 
Queen Victoria with her own hand penned a letter 
full of consolation to the many bereaved widows 
and orphans, and some expressed their wonder that 
the Queen could so beautifully portray their feel- 
ings. The secret of this was that but a short time 
before she had been deprived of her husband, the 
Prince consort, and hence she knew the feelings of 

a widow. 

I 



138 MEMOIR OF 

Jesus, our High Priest, that has passed into the 
heavens, looks on us to-day ; he notes our falling- 
tears, our heavy hearts of sadness, and if we look 
up to him we shall find consolation. Let us look 
up for instruction. The Lord is speaking in his 
providence to us to-day ; each one here has some 
lesson to learn. Are we not listening to God's voice, 
and shall we not say, " speak Lord for we hear ? ' 
Are we not admonished to do our christian duty ? 
Our dear Pastor was a faithful worker, and for the 
last few months has seemed more earnest than 
ever; but who feels that he was too much in ear- 
nest about the work of Christ ? " Whatsoever thy 
hand nndeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is 
no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in 
the grave whither thou goest." The last sermon 
that he preached to you from the words " To-day, 
if ye will hear his voice," is yet lingering in your 
ears. Brethren, be instructed that life is brief, 
death is certain. 

When he was in his theological course, he has 
said he counted it a great privilege to preach, even 
if he walked five or ten miles to reach his appoint- 
ment. He seemed to bear as his motto, " For me 
to live is Christ," and we have no doubt that for 
him to die was gain. 

May God help us to look upward to-day, and set 






S. W. ADAMS. 139 

our affections on things above and not on things on 
the earth . 

ADDRESS BY REV. DR. AIKEN, OF THE FIRST 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

Dear Friends — I have but a few words to offer 
you at this time. I know that you have been sadly 
bereaved ; your loss is a heavy one, the weight of 
which you cannot feel to-day. I have known your 
Pastor, Bro. Adams, ever since he first settled 
among you, nearly eighteen years, and my acquain- 
tance soon ripened into friendship. I learned to 
value his character and love him as a brother. I 
found in him a safe counsellor. When I needed 
counsel, I was never afraid to go to him, and as a 
brother minister I often did, and I found him to be 
one in whom I could confide with safety and con- 
verse with pleasure. I have known him, I may say 
intimately, and for the last two years have seen 
him almost daily, and I have thought as I saw him 
on the street, of that passage of scripture, " Behold 
an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile ;" for 
there was no guile in him ; he was open and frank. 
You might read his profession in his daily life. He 
commended daily the Gospel that he preached, and 
gave a lining witness of its power, and showed that 
he loved its truth. You will long miss him ; so 



140 MEMOIR OP 

shall we all. He lias been eminently successful as 
a Pastor and useful to the cause of the Redeemer. 
As an under shepherd he watched for souls, and 
there are many that are seals of his ministry. 

ADDRESS BY REV. DR. GOODRICH, OF THE FIRST 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

It falls to my lot to-day to bring to this bereaved 
family and to this sorrowing, church the sympathies 
of the pastors and congregations of the city. The 
words of tender consolation and animating hope 
which have already been spoken, have anticipated 
all I would have offered, by way of comfort to this 
mourning household. And I will only say to them, 
as to you all, that the Ministers and people of this 
community, far and near, sorrow with yon, in your 
calamitj^, deeply and painfully. 

Dr. Adams has stood among us, his brethren, as 
an acknowledged pattern of ministerial dignity, 
purity, and faithfulness. About a year since a 
weekly meeting of pastors in the city was com- 
menced, at which he was a constant attendant. Its 
object was mutual consultation and prayer concern- 
ing our common work, and usually a brief report 
was made of the sermons preached on the previous 
Sabbath. Most of his fellow pastors probably 
gained their chief acquaintance with him at that 



S. W. ADAMS. 141 

meeting, and all will testify to the pure and elevating 
influence left upon us by his companionship. There 
was about him always a gravity, an earnestness, a 
humility, which made us feel the presence of a 
godly man, and of one who was growing in christian 
attainment, as he grew in years. There was also 
manifest a diligence in study and a thoroughness 
of thought, which commanded increased respect, 
the longer we listened to him. I recall especially 
his reports of a series of sermons upon the whole 
subject of Redemption, which gave the impression 
of a style of preachiug which must have been rich 
in instruction and in fruit. 

The power and usefulness of our brother was 
not, however, merely that of solid and valuable 
teaching, His life and character made him felt in 
this community, even more than his words. He 
preached but one day in the week to his own flock, 
but he lived forth the Gospel of Christ every day 
before us all. There was in him a sincerity and 
consistency which could not be hid. He was trans- 
parent as crystal, and honest as a little child. No 
man ever doubted him. No man ever saw in him 
anything concealed or artificial. He was always 
himself, true, simple, manly, and faithful. His mere 
presence among us was worth much to religion. 
Men, as they passed him in the street, said to them- 
selves, "There is a man who believes all the Gospel 



142 MEMOIR OF 

he preaches. He speaks of that which he has felt 
in his own soul." It was impossible even for the 
irreligious to gainsay the truth which he both ut- 
tered and lived. 

It is a great loss to us all, to lose such a man ; 
such a Christian minister, but to this congregation, 
the loss surpasses all present estimate. You will 
feel it, my friends, for long years to come. Even 
when his place in this pulpit is supplied, and your 
affections are cordially given to some other pastor, 
the memory of Brother Adams will linger in your 
hearts. You will miss that quiet power of constant 
godliness which has held you more strongly every 
one of these eighteen years, and has made him 
dearer to you, than many more famous men have 
ever been to their people. If he had been a more 
popular preacher you might have found another 
like him. If he had won and charmed you by mere 
attractions of manner and delivery, you might have 
been drawn as easily to some new style of address. 
But that which chiefly made him a blessing to this 
church, and precious to every member of it, was 
something in the soul, something which transcends 
human teaching. It was the work of the Spirit of 
God, forming him before your very eyes constantly 
into the likeness of his Master, and drawing you by 
his godly life toward the same Lord. This it was 
which gave weight and persuasiveness to all his 



S. W. ADAMS. 143 

ministry. This nicade him a welcome comforter in 
your times of sorrow. This made him wise to win 
souls. How many among you has he personally 
led by his couusels and prayers to lay hold by 
faith of Christ. How many have been helped in 
the way of holiness by his watchfulness and love. 
Can you ever forget him ? Can the influences re- 
ceived by God's grace from his life, ever pass away 
from those whom he here has served ? He is gone 
sooner than you anticipated. He is gone, before 
some of the aged among you, who felt sure that 
his hands would lay them in the grave. " He is 
gone, but his works follow him." " Being dead, he 
yet speaketh." The power of his life will abide in 
this church for a generation. So faithfully has he 
walked before you in the way of life, and shown 
you how to follow Christ, that there is not one 
probably of this people who has ever been hindered 
in Christian living by any slightest act or word of 
his. There is not one who would not say to-day 
that he would willingly exchange his best hopes 
of heaven for those evidences of ripeness for life 
eternal, which Brother Adams plainly bore. 

And you, my friends, for whom he has labored 
and prayed thus long in vain, would it not be his 
wish that some word should be spoken here by his 
open grave to you. There must be many here, some 
perhaps old, some in the heat and haste of this 



144 MEMOIR OF 

world's care, some in youth and childhood, whom 
all his prayers and anxious labors have failed to 
bring to repentance. Many a time as he sat in this 
place and saw before hinrone and another out of 
Christ, his heart has risen up to God for them in 
imploring supplication. Often in the quiet of his 
study has he thought over his people, name by 
name, and presented you with strong crying and 
tears before God. When you have passed him in 
the street and seen only his kindty recognition, he 
remembered your need and peril as without hope, 
and lifted a swift prayer to God in your behalf. 

And now his toils, his care, his prayers for you 
are ended. You have heard the last invitation to 
Christ which he will ever give you. You have list- 
ened to the last supplication he will ever put up in 
your behalf. His latest anxieties were for his 
people, and when, with failing strength and mind, 
he strove last Sabbath morning to lead his family 
in prayer, his thoughts took wider range and 
brought you into his petition. 

How, my friends, will you meet this pastor in the 
great clay ? Shall all his fidelity only rise up in 
judgment against you? Or shall he not, even in 
death, draw you to the Saviour, and in the day of 
God have rejoicing in you also ? 

PRAYER BY REV. A. DARROW, BAPTIST. 



S. W. ADAMS. 145 

BENEDICTIOX BY REV. DR. WOLCOTT, CONGRE- 
GATIOXALIST. 

Xow the God of peace that brought again from 
the dead the Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd 
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
covenant, make you perfect in every good work to 
do his will, working in you that which is well 
pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to 
whom be gloiy forever and ever. Amen. 

ADDRESS (AT THE GRAYE) BY REY. DR. HAWKS, 
PRESBYTERIAX. 

We read in God's word of men who were full of 
faith and of the Holy Ghost, and such seems to me 
to be the . character of our dear brother whom we 
bring here to rest to-day, and of one of that number 
it is said, that devout men carried Stephen to his 
burial and made great lamentation over him. We 
here leave this body to slumber, committing it 
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. But 
think not of our brother as in the grave, follow his 
ransomed spirit to its glorious home. " I heard a 
voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, blessed 
are the dead which die in the Lord from hence- 
forth. Yea saith the spirit that they may rest from 
their labors, and their works do follow them." l"es 



146 MEMOIR OF 

the works of onr brother shall follow him as 
evidence of his labors. But we leave not this 
body even without hope. God will change this 
corruptible body and make it like unto his own 
glorious body. The hour is coming in which all 
that are in their graves shall hear his voice and 
shall come forth : Jesus said, " I am the resur- 
rection and the life, he that believeth in me though 
he were dead yet shall he live." It is appointed 
unto man once to die but after that the judgment. 
For we must all appear at the Judgment seat of 
Christ. 

RESOLUTIONS OF THE CHURCH. 

The Covenant Meeting of the Church occurring in 
the evening following the funeral services, the 
following preamble and resolutions were then 
adopted unanimously. 

Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father 
to remove suddenly from us our faithful and much 
loved Pastor, Rev. Seymour W. Adams, D. D., 
whereby this church is deprived of its earthly shep- 
herd, and an affectionate wife, and children of 
tender age, of a loving and loved husband and 
parent, therefore, 

Besolved, That as members of this church we will 
ever cherish the memory of our deceased Pastor, 
and that while we so cheiish his memory we will 



S. W. ADAMS. 147 

endeavor to exemplify in our walk and conversation, 
that we are yet profiting by his heavenly teaching 
and holy example. 

Resolved, That we desire here and now, in this 
covenant meeting, on this the evening of the day of 
the burial of our dear brother, publicly to express 
our sincere gratitude to our Heavenly Father that 
he has for so many years spared to us the same 
beloved shepherd with his constant, unwearied and 
unselfish labors for his flock. 

Besolved, That we tender to our sister, the wid- 
owed wife of our dear deceased Pastor, and to her 
fatherless children, our most sincere and cordial 
sympathy, and assure them that our prayers and 
sympathy for her and them shall not cease; but as we 
remember the unwearied efforts of our departed 
Pastor for ourselves and families while he was yet 
living ; now that he is gone from us, we will remem- 
ber the widow and orphans in "Labors of love," 
and cherish them as the bereaved ones of the 
church. 

Besolved, That we also tender to the mother, 
brothers, sisters and friends of our departed Pas- 
tor, our sympathies in this time of trial, and would 
say, let it console them that they ever had such a 
son, or brother, or friend, who has left such a rec- 
ord of a walk with God, and though " being dead 
yet speaketh." 



148 MEMOIR OF 

Resolved, That Brother James M. Hoyt, at his 
earliest convenience, be requested to prepare and 
deliver a commemorative discourse on the life and 
death of our departed Brother. 

Resolved, That the foregoing Preamble and Reso- 
lutions be entered on the Record book of this 
Church, and that a copy of these proceedings be 
presented to the family of our deceased Pastor. 

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE REV. DR. ADAMS. 

The Committee appointed at the weekly meeting 
of the pastors of this city, to prepare resolutions 
in regard to the death of Rev. Dr. Adams, report 
the following : 

Whereas, It has pleased the Great Head of the 
Church, to remove by death, after a short illness — 
Induced by his patriotic labors, under the Christian 
•Commission, in behalf of our suffering soldiers — 
our beloved brother, the Rev. S. W. Adams, D. D., 
therefore, 

Resolved^ 1. That we deem it fit that we should 
give expression to our sense of personal loss, in 
this sundering of ties, which we have always felt 
to be both pleasant and profitable. 

Resolved, 2. That we would also express to the 
Congregation of Brother Adams, our sorrow, in 
•their bereavement of a Pastor who has, under a 



S. W. ADAMS. 149 

kind Providence, for so many years ably and faith- 
fully served them, in the Gospel of the Grace of 
God ; and commend them to the care of him who is 
the Shepherd and Bishop of souls ; and who 
leadeth his people like a flock. 

Resolved, 3. That we especially tender to the 
afflicted family and friends of our deceased brother, 
our deepest sympathies in their great loss ; and 
while with them we would bow submissively 
before the wisdom of the Divine will, we confi- 
dently commit them, in our fervent prayers, to the 
gracious keeping of that God who is " a judge of 
the fatherless and widows." 

S. B. PAGE, ) 
M. A. HOGE, S 



VII. 

OBITUARY NOTICES — EXTRACT FROM DR. HAWKS' 
SERMON — LETTER OF DR, ADAMS — 
WIFE'S TESTIMONIAL. 

As the news of the decease of Dr. Ad- 
ams spread, secular and religious news- 
papers contained notices of his death and 
sketches of his life, especially the press 
of his own denomination. Only one4of 
these obituaries can be given. The oth- 
ers were much like this, and space cannot 
be appropriated for them without too 
much enlarging this work. The sketch 
here given is from the New York Chron- 
icle : 

REV. S. W. ADAMS, D. D. 

We always feel a thrill of pain when we read of 
the death of a Gospel minister. Another voice 
that has been accustomed to speak for God and 
the Church is silent. Another form that has stood 
upon the walls of ZiOn has fallen. There is one 
less to labor for the souls of men, or win sinners 



152 MEMOIR OF 

to the cross ; one less to pray for the conversion of 
the lost ; one less to hold up the banner of the, 
cross. We always feel thus when the humblest 
pastor dies and is laid to rest. 

But a double pang is felt when such a man as 
Dr. Adams, of Cleveland, is called to a higher 
station near the throne. With the fact of his 
death our readers are all probably familiar. He 
was the oldest pastor in settlement in Ohio, and 
had become one of the first men in that great 
State. With a mind gilted above common men, 
and a heart feelingly alive to the wants and woes 
of the world, he had made an impress on tne 
Cleveland community which years cannot oblite- 
rate. It is believed that he died without an enemy 
in the world. The purity of his life, the urbanity 
of his deportment, the tenderness of his spirit, 
procured for him the universal respect of all who 
knew him. There can few be found to w T hom he 
ever uttered a harsh word or returned an unkind 
answer. He was singularly unselfish in all that he 
did, sinking himself and his own interests in the 
good of others. 

He was one of the silent heroes. He did not 
fall on the field of battle. He did not die sur- 
rounded by armed foemen, but he was no less a 
hero. The disease of which he died is supposed to 
have been contracted while doing the duty of a 



S. W. ADAMS. 153 

Christian minister among the wounded and dying. 
He had acted for the Christian Commission in its 
holy work, and while thus employed contracted 
the malady which terminated his mortal life. He 
was a hero and a patriot, as worthy of renown as 
the plumed warrior who dies while making a 
charge upon the works of the enemy. 

Soon after this, the Ohio Baptist State 
Convention met and bore strong testi- 
mony to his high character as a christian 
minister, and lamenting his loss. The 
same was done at the next meeting of the 
Cleveland Baptist Association. In the 
former, the report was read by Rev. 1. N. 
Carmax, and in the latter by Rev. S. B. 
Page, D. D. 

Rev. Dr. Hawks, pastor of the Second 
Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, deliv- 
ered a discourse to his own people on 
the occasion of the death of Dr. Adams 
and repeated it subsequently in the First 
Baptist Church. Of this, only a brief 
extract can be given. The whole dis- 
course was replete with interest. It was 



154 MEMOIR OF 

EXTRACT. 

" Dr. Adams consecrated to his work no mean. 
abilities, no poor acquirements. 

Possessed naturally of a strong intellect, he 
disciplined it by the severe processes of thought 
and study. His scholarship was accurate and 
thorough, his reading extensive and profitable. 
And that mental discipline, and these attainments 
were not sought for his own advantage, nor yet for 
their intrinsic value. By means of them, he 
intended to serve, as he did serve, Christ and the 
Church. It w r as by such labor in the study that 
he was able to meet the demands of a protracted 
ministry, and to gain for himself and the congre- 
gation over which he was placed, a position of 
honor and usefulness which became greater and 
more commanding with every passing year. 

It was by these careful labors that he was qual- 
ified to preach solid doctrine, with a cogency of 
logic and attraction of style which fixed attention 
and carried conviction. It was in this way he 
became a scribe well instructed in the things of 
the kingdom. He loved to preach the gospel of 
the grace of God. This was the work to which 
his preparations in the study were made tributary. 
And earnestly, faithiully, with love to souls, did he 
declare the doctrines of the word of God. 



S. W. ADAMS. 155 

His qualifications for preaching were by no 
means merely intellectual. I imagine, indeed, that 
more conspicuous and influential than these, were 
those of a moral character. He kept watch over 
his own heart. The love of Christ and of souls 
glowed in his breast, and imparted an earnestness 
and sincerity to his utterances which gave them 
peculiar force, while his hearers felt that in the 
preacher himself was a living argument, con- 
firming the truth he proclaimed, and earnestly 
commending it to their acceptance. And all these 
qualifications, natural and acquired, of head and 
of heart, constitutional endowments and gifts of 
grace, were also employed in another depart- 
ment of christian labor, in which he served with 
rare fidelity and success. 

Dr. Adams was a pastor as well as a preacher. 
He taught not only publicly, but from house to 
house. And in this unobtrusive service, he drew, 
with no sparing hand, upon the treasures of knowl- 
edge, and love and practical wisdom, which his 
studies and experience had accumulated. What he 
was in the pastoral relation — at the bedside of 
the sick and dying, in scenes of want, bereavement, 
or other afflictions — in times of prosperity and 
joyf illness — when, in seasons of spiritual declen- 
sion, he sought to encourage and quicken the 
faith of God's children — or, in times of the spirit's 



156 MEMOIR OF 

power, watched and counseled, and prayed, that ne 
might guide inquirers to Christ, you, my brethren, 
among whom he has walked these eighteen years, 
know, as no others can. I imagine that no small 
part of his usefulness and success in the ministry, 
depended upon his skill and fidelity in these 
more private labors. Certainly, I have sometimes 
thought this when, at the morning prayer meeting, 
I have heard him speak of one individual and 
another whom he had met and aided in the search 
after the heavenly kingdom. And this allusion to 
his presence and remarks in the morning meeting, 
reminds me of the place where prayer is wont to 
be made. 

I have been told that he habitually attended the 
social religious meetings of the church ; and from 
the constancy with which he helped to sustain the 
morning meeting, I can readily believe the testi- 
mony. One may wonder that he found time for so 
many duties : but, brethren, we make time for duties 
we love. Brother Adams knew how to economize 
time. Hence he was able to meet these multiplied 
demands, and yet never seemed driven, or fretted, 
or unprepared for any duty. 

I must not omit to mention, among the traits of 
character which have arrested my admiration, his 
love of children and the youth connected with Lis 
parish, or brought under the influence of its benev- 



S. W. ADAMS. 157 

olent missionary labors. Himself not a young man, 
lie succeeded beyond most ministers, in attaching 
the youth to him. Not without reason, therefore, 
when the young people were gathered in their 
weekly prayer meeting, and while they were offer- 
ing fervent supplications for him, did the announce- 
ment that he was beyond the reach of prayer, stun 
them with the quick sense of an irreparable loss, 
and cause them to break forth in sobbing for his re- 
moval, as of their loved spiritual father. Out of his 
love for the youth, and his devotion to their spirit- 
ual good, coupled with his faculty for organizing the 
forces of the church, in co-operation with many 
efficient assistants, have grown up the flourishing 
Sunday Schools sustained by the church ; than 
which, none in the city, in my opinion, are better 
organized, or more successful. 

In thus alluding to the services of this able and 
faithful minister of Christ, we have not mentioned 
one important source of his power and usefulness. 
This is to be found in his well balanced character, 
and in his singular uprightness and blameless- 
ness. 

It was by the power of impression he thus exerted 

that he gained a commanding influence on the side 

of true godliness, far beyond the limits of his own 

^congregation, and drew a tribute of respect for his 

personal worth, and for the christian religion that 



158 MEMOIR OF 

shone so brightly in him, from a great number who 
seldom heard him preach. Hence it came to pass, 
that, while he was not a brilliant preacher, nor, in 
the common acceptation of the phrase, a popular 
preacher, he was, nevertheless, a man of power in 
the ministry. And as I have reflected upon his 
extensive influence in the denomination w T ith which 
he was identified in labors and faith, and have seen 
how deeply he has impressed himself for good upon 
this community, I have said that there are higher 
attainments for the minister than the shining graces 
of the schools, and there is a quiet power in per- 
sonal worth, and in the unostentatious work of the 
christian teacher and pastor, which the Lord may 
be pleased to accept and bless, not less than a bril- 
liant and fascinating eloquence. Let the minister 
gain the latter, if he can ; but let him not fail to 
exert the former. 

I have been a learner in this scene of discipline 
and sorrow, through which not a family only, or a 
church, but all the churches and the community 
have been passing. 

In the spirit and manner which we have sought 
very imperfectly to portray, our beloved brother 
toiled for eighteen years. He did not leave his 
work till his Master called him from it. 

Thus far, we have not referred to the 



S. W. ADAMS. 159 

correspondence of Dr. Adams, because 
it would too much extend this memoir. 
I can not, however, forbear adverting to 
it here, and giving in full a character- 
istic letter. It is already apparent, and 
it will further appear in these pages, 
that Dr. Adams took great interest in the 
young of his congregation, and especi- 
ally in the children of the members of 
his church. He not only sought to in- 
struct and admonish them in his ser- 
mons, addresses, and lectures, and in 
his personal intercourse with them, but 
when these means were not apparently 
successful, he sought to impress them by 
correspondence, and by direct appeals in 
writing. From information on this point 
it is believed that an interesting volume 
could be filled with correspondence of 
this character. In very many families, 
these mementos of affection and duty are 
possessed and cherished, and all the more 
because the living voice cannot now be 
heard, but by these, "he being dead yet 



160 MEMOIR OF 

speaketh." It will be more profitable to 
give one characteristic letter in full, 
rather than extracts from many. The 
following therefore is given : 

LETTER FROM DR. ADAMS TO A YOUNG MAX OF 
HIS CONGREGATION. 

Cleveland, Feb'y 26, 1863. 

Dear Friend : — I take the liberty to address you 
a few lines upon the great subject so necessary to 
us all, viz : that of personal religion. It is af amil- 
iar one to you, and because familiar, I have not to 
consume time in defining terms or constructing 
arguments to show its worth. Its importance you 
admit, and its lasting benefits you hope some day 
to share. But yet I fear, you, like multitudes in the 
world, are neglecting it. 

reeling a solicitude for your welfare, I am con- 
strained to urge upon you the necessity of giving 
your immediate and earnest attention to personal 
religion. 

^Several appear to be now seeking the Saviour, of 
nearly your own age, and can you possibly hope for 
a better opportunity than the present ? God is 
moving upon the minds of the young and I ear- 
nestly hope you may be among the number who 
will seek and find the Saviour's blessing. 



S. W. ADAMS. 161 

If you now give place to reflection upon this 
subject, you certainly will have no occasion to 
regret it, either in time or eternity; and if you do 
not, it is equally certain that you must regret the 
neglect. 

Your position is likely to influence others, either 
to the neglect or to the discharge of duty, and this 
load of responsibility you cannot shake off, however 
insensible you may now be to it. Let me invite you 
then to come in to our evening meetings, and make 
the interests of your soul of the first moment. 
Affectionately yours, 

S, W. Adams, 
Pastor First Baptist Church. 

THE WIFE'S TESTIMONIAL. 

While the sanctuary of the family and 
home should not be needlessly invaded 
to gather material for this memoir, yet 
the work undertaken w r ould seem incom- 
plete without that testimony which can 
be gathered from only one source — the 
wife, now r the w r idow r of the deceased Pas- 
tor. After earnest solicitation she has 
furnished, in addition to other matter, the 
following : 



162 MEMOIR OF 

My husband was habitually an early riser. By 
early training the habit seemed easy to him. 
He always began the clay with God. 

His habits of study were severe, and systematic 
as possible. Every day had its plan, each hour its 
alloted task, or privilege. Of course his plans were 
often interrupted, and sometimes wholly broken up, 
but he always maintained that even then he gained 
great advantage by system. 

He seemed to have great strength in reserve, and 
could endure prolonged, intense mental eifort for 
hours, and always insisted that the mind was never 
weary, the body only being capable of fatigue. 

His study with all its hallowed influences was the 
resort for heart's ease to all in the family, even the 
youngest, who went to papa, to carry her little 
story of grief, or confess wrong, and receive papa's 
kiss of forgiveness, and hear his loving prayer. 

Its door was always open to the burdened of his 
flock, no matter what the burden they carried, 
whether of poverty, affliction, sin, or care, they came 
to him for counsel, or reproof, and loving sympa- 
thy. And they always went away with lighter 
hearts, and a tender loving regard for him who had 
led them nearer to God. 

A warm welcome always awaited the brother 
minister, whether friend or stranger, whether poor 
and obscure, or strong in influence and position. 



S. W. ADAMS. 16$ 

Xo doubtful invitation was tendered to enjoy the 
hospitalities of his home ; and in this view of his 
character, I would add, that he was always glad to 
share his home with God's poor and distressed ones.. 
The view of hospitality as enjoined by the apostle 
he always maintained. 

No man ever appreciated more than he the quiet 
retirement of his study, but he cared not so much 
to be ministered unto, as to be the servant of 
all, and he counted it a privilege to give his sympa- 
thy and counsel to the Master's servants. 

He was never forward to advise, but was sugges- 
tive and timely. 

One who has long stood as a watchman upon the 
walls of Zion was formerly one of his beloved 
members. The brother was naturally diffident, and 
he came to my husband one clay, telling him that he 
felt it his duty to keep still in prayer meeting, as he 
could eclify no one. Mr, Adams heard him atten- 
tively, and replied, " Bro. H., I think you had better 
embrace every opportunity to speak, it will clo the 
church no hurt, and it will do you a great deal of 
good." By these few words of encouragement, the 
brother was greatly strengthened, and has become 
an eminently useful minister of the gospel. 

Of himself he was totally regardless, in a selfish 
sense. He was conscious of defects in style and 
delivery, yet while with true humility he ever 



164 MEMOIR. 

sought to improve, lie was not painfully self con- 
scious, but strong in confidence in the power of the 
Word. 

The promise, " The meek shall inherit the earth," 
was abundantly fulfilled in his life, for peace of 
mind in its fulness was his constant portion for 
many years. Sunshine beamed upon and was re- 
flected from him. 



VIII. 

COMMEMORATIVE DISCOURSE. 

In pursuance of the request of the 
church, expressed by resolution, the fol- 
lowing discourse was prepared and de- 
livered in the First Baptist Church, and 
a request was also made that it be fur- 
nished for publication. 

It is already apparent that without this, 
the memoir would be incomplete, as 
reference has been made to it to supply 
numerous omissions in what precedes it. 
The reader will need to keep this in mind 
in order to profit to the best advantage by 
a perusal of the whole memoir. 

It is proper here to observe, for the in- 
formation of those who are unacquainted 
with the fact, that the author of this dis- 
course is a member of the legal profess^ 
ion — though not now actively engaged in 
it — and he is also a licensed preacher. 



168 MEMOIR OF 

COMMEMORATIVE DISCOURSE. 

BY JAMES M. HOYT, 

Psalms cxvi, 15 : " Precious in the sight of the Lord is 
J the death of his saints." 

The text gives us the aspect of the 
death of a saint, as seen from the Divine 
side. From the human side its aspect 
is directly the opposite. While on the 
one hand the Lord sees in the death 
of one of his saints, an event joyous 
and valued, an event anticipated with 
pleasure, and treasured when occur- 
ing as precious ; on the other hand, to 
human view it is shrouded in sorrow ; the 
lieart shrinks from the dreary gloom of 
the grave, and with anguish and tears 
yields to the dread necessity which buries 
the object of its love. The crushed heart 
reassured by faith in its Lord, may look 
up and see through its tears that the 
cloud of its sorrow is irradiated by the 
hues of heaven ; but even then the glo- 
ries are all on the heavenly side, and on 



S. W. ADAMS. 167 

the earthly only gloom. As when some 
heavy cloud shuts in the whole horizon, 
and dark, chill, and damp, no sunshine 
can be seen — we yet know that on the 
upper side above the cloud there is serene 
sunshine ; so, when death buries in its 
appalling gloom, one whom we love, and 
one who we know loved and was loved 
by the Saviour, the light on the cloud is 
all on the side facing heavenward. 

Yet the text is to be accepted by 
the bereaved as full of instruction and 
consolation. It brings clearly out the 
great fact that what in man's view is 
gloom, in God's view is blessedness; and 
it gives perfect assurance to a believer 
mourning for the death of a saint that 
there will be a time when the earthly 
gloom will vanish in the heavenly glory, 
which will give beauty for ashes, the oil 
of joy for mourning, and the garment of 
praise for the spirit of heaviness. It is 
well then for us to dwell upon the instruc- 
tion and consolation to be derived from 



168 MEMOIR OF 

the text. The fact asserted in it, we may 
see is no arbitrary one, but one based 
upon divinely ordained realities. 

First, let us bear in mind that what the 
text asserts to be precious in the sight of 
the Lord is the death of Ms saints. Not 
the death of one of the worlcVs saints. Not 
one canonized by the suffrage of a sect, or 
by priestly artifice, or infatuation. But 
one of the LorcCs saints. One of those 
hearts truly consecrated to the Lord, and 
by that consecration, which is the blessed 
fruit of the Saviour's purchasing atone- 
ment, made the possession of the Lord — 
made his — a possession, in the conscious- 
ness of which the saint rejoices, and which 
the Saviour seals by the transforming 
power of his love. The Lord's saints must 
in creed and in life, with grateful joy ac- 
cept the pardon of their sins, and the 
cleansing of their souls, as the purchase 
of their Lord, for which he gave his infi- 
nitely precious blood. Thus accepting 
life in and by their Lord, they feel that 



S. W. ADAMS. 169 

they are not their own, but have been 
bought with a price. 

No man is in any true sense his own. 
He belongs to his Creator. Whether 
consciously, or unconsciously, he is al- 
ways, and inevitably the property of his 
Maker. But the Lord's saints are his by 
virtue of a new and transcendently higher 
claim — namely, their creation in redemp- 
tion, the fruit of the power of God as 
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A redemp- 
tion from the death w T hich by reason of 
the soul's sin had passed upon the life re- 
sulting from its first creation, and the lift- 
ing of the soul in a new life to a higher 
being as a Son of God, and heir to an 
inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and 
never to fade away. As the soul made 
through redemption a saint is indebted 
for its life solely to its Lord, and can enter 
upon and continue in that life only in and 
by its Lord, so is it by the clearest right 
the purchase, and property of its Lord. 
Speaking of such, as the saints of the Lord, 



170 MEMOIR OF 

it is declared" by inspiration that their 
death in his sight is precious. 

What, let us now inquire, is such death, 
and why is it precious ? 

1st. The death of the saint is the con- 
summation of all that array of antecedents 
divinely ordained, and of redeeming and 
regenerating power divinely exercised, in 
the saint's history; and therefore such 
death is precious. By as much as the 
Lord had a conscious plan in the redemp- 
tion and creation to righteousness of each 
of his saints, by as much as related to that 
plan, all antecedent facts and influences 
in the history of the saint were made to 
conspire, through divine power, to the 
furtherance of that plan ; and by as much 
as the Lord discerns infallibly just when 
the great purposes in that plan are ful- 
filed; by so much, that plan's consumma- 
tion, in the transfer of the saint from the 
preparatory stage of existence here, to 
fruition in a perfected state, in which the 
power and blessing of that great plan can 



S. W. ADAMS. 171 

be fully realized, is an object of desire to 
the Lord. That consummation to the 
saint, that transfer from preliminary and 
imperfect, to a glorified existence, is death; 
and hence it is, that in the sight of the 
Lord such death is precious. Just as a 
purpose is of great value, and is cherished; 
so will its fulfillment be cherished. Just 
as the great purpose in creation is re- 
demption, and just as the redemption of 
the soul in the sight of the Lord is pre- 
cious ; so is the seal and consummation of 
that redemption in the death of the saint 
precious. 

There is vast meaning in this averment 
of inspiration. The whole framework of 
the globe, with all the antecedent pur- 
pose and power manifested in its creation; 
the whole administration of Providence 
in the creation and support of the count- 
less race of man, and the marshalling of 
the myriad moral influences related to his 
being here, are all in the interest of man's 
redemption. 



172 MEMOIR OF 

This last and most glorious fruit of God's 
creative power and life is the transcen- 
dent end, in view of which all which is 
antecedent, and preliminary, is ordained 
to be. How valued and precious then 
must be that end. How infinitely costly 
has been the divine expenditure prere- 
quisite to its consummation. It can be 
no marvel then that such consummation 
in the sight of God is precious. In this 
view the death of a saint has a new, and 
the only true significance. In this view, 
death is the birth to life. In this view 
death means not woe, and tears, and 
blight, and corruption; but, while tears 
and grief are incident to it, and have w T ide 
and precious uses in their moral influence 
on those related to the departed, yet in 
its essence as divinely seen, death is con- 
summated life. Corruption in it puts on 
incorruption, weakness puts on power, 
and humanity is lifted to glory. Flesh 
and blood of necessity are left behind, 
for they cannot inherit the kingdom of 



S. W. ADAMS. 173 

God ; neither cloth corruption inherit 
incorruption. " So when this corrup- 
tion shall have put on incorruption, and 
this mortal shall have put on immortality, 
then shall be brought to pass the saying 
that is written, death is swallowed up in 
victory. O death, where is thy sting? O 
grave, where is thy victory? But thanks 
be to God, which giveth us the victory, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. For we 
know that if our earthly house of this 
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a 
building of God, a house not made with 
hands, eternal in the heavens. For we 
that are in this tabernacle do groan, being 
burdened : not for that we would be un- 
clothed, but clothed upon, that mortality 
might be swallowed up of life. Now he 
that hath wrought us for the self same 
thing is God, who also hath given unto us 
the earnest of the spirit." 

Such is the light which inspiration 
sheds upon the grave. As that light is 
heavenly, it illuminates of course, the 



174 MEMOIR OF 

heavenly side of death; but there only 
do we find its true meaning. In that 
light alone do we see what is enduring. 
We who are on the earthly side, and who 
in the gloom of dissolving nature, see 
in death 

" The tear, 

The groan, the knell, the pall, the bier ; 
And all we know, or dream, or fear 
Of agony, " 

are called upon by inspiration to ascend 
to a higher and grander horizon ; to look 
by faith beyond the seen and temporal to 
the unseen and eternal ; and though the 
heart may bleed from the severance of its 
earthly ties ; the soul through faith, may 
see that the departed saint, by God's love 
in Christ, has been lifted from travail to 
birth, from darkness to light, from con* 
flict to peace, from death to life incor- 
ruptible undefiled, and never to fade 
away; and thus may the soul see even 
here that precious in the sight of the 
Lord is the death of his saints. 



S. 7\ ADAMS. 175 

It is our privilege, as a church of Christ 
mourning the loss of a beloved and long 
cherished pastor, to accept all the in- 
struction and consolation of the text ; for 
he whom we would honor and commemo- 
rate, was eminently one of the Lord's 
saints. His death, while to us bereave- 
ment, to him is glory. While we mourn 
the loss to us, we may rejoice in the gain 
to him ; for in all its fullness, he has en- 
tered into that which in the sight of his 
Lord and our Lord is precious. We can- 
not love him so truly as he was loved by 
his Saviour ; and that Saviour has now 
placed upon him the seal of his eternal 
blessing. To us the severance of the hal- 
lowed relation he bore to us was a sur 
prise, but to Christ it was the fulfillment 
of a chosen purpose. Never did a flock 
deprived of a shepherd mourn their loss 
with more unfeigned sorrow. They had 
loved him long, but they knew not how 
truly and tenderly they loved him until 
he was with them no more. God blessed 



176 MEMOIR OF 

us in the union. He smiled most gra- 
ciously upon us through many years of 
mutual love and labor. When the stroke 
of his Providence came, and the cherish- 
ed tie was sundered, as all earthly ties 
must be, we may still see him by faith as 
one of the Lord's ransomed ones among 
the blissful sons of light ; and remember- 
ing his faithful ministrations when with 
us, cherishing all the evidences of his un- 
wearied and self-denying love, and emu- 
lating with holy ardor his blameless, 
beautiful and truly saintly example, we 
may still have with us the hope of the 
same high calling of God in Christ Jesus ; 
and when the Lord shall see in us his 
blessed purpose ripened, we may hope 
too in his appointed time, that our trans- 
fer to light will be precious in his sight. 

It will be salutary to us, as it is grate- 
ful, to commemorate our departed pastor. 
Not sorrowing as those without hope, but 
having hope in our sorrow ; animated by 
all his memory and labor, his teaching 



S. W. ADAMS. 177 

and example, his liie and death — a life 
consecrated to his Saviour, a death pre- 
cious in the sight of his Lord. 

Seymour Webster Adams was bona in 
Vernon, Oneida County, New York, on 
the first of August, 1815. His parents 
were farmers ; industrious, frugal, and ex- 
emplary in every relation in life, they 
were also truly religious. His mother's 
maiden name was Webster, being a niece 
of Noah Webster, the great American 
lexicographer. His father, Isaac Adams, 
long an honored deacon in the Baptist 
church of Vernon, died in 1861. His 
mother, Eunice W. Adams, is still living, 
far advanced in years, yet serenely trust- 
ing in the God of her fathers and of her 
children, and awaiting with patience and 
hope a blissful re-union with those of her 
loved ones who have gone before. 

From the organization of his parents, 
our deceased pastor inherited a nervous 
temperament of remarkable equanimity ; 
with a healthful constitution of more 



178 MEMOIR OF 

than ordinary powers of endurance. The 
home influences in which he was nurtur- 
ed were eminently adapted to develop 
the nature, traits and qualities of his 
temperament. 

Unpretentious fidelity to duty, in pa- 
rents, who in language, and life, sought 
to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk 
humbly before God, left, with the divine 
blessing, and in fulfillment of the divine 
promise, its full effect upon their son. He 
entered with a filial docility unsurpassed 
into the inheritance of their excellence ; 
and became early naturalized to the at- 
mosphere of their faith, and blameless 
living. As a son, he was docile, loving, 
tenderly attached to his kindred, profound- 
ly obedient and reverent towards his 
parents, whose wish was the law of his 
heart, and whom he loved to call blessed. 
He derived also from his parentage and 
nurture, as well as from his native tem- 
perament, great tenacity of family affec- 
tion, love of home, and of domestic enjoy- 



S. W. ADAMS. 179 

ments, which were traits of striking ex- 
cellence in him through life. In his quiet 
country home and surroundings he also 
acquired a love of nature and rural scene- 
ry which never lost their charm for him. 

The child of such parentage, and in 
such a home, at the age of seventeen he 
became through faith in Christ, a child of 
God. His conversion was one of marked 
transition from conscious guilt as a sinner 
before God, to conscious and joyful accep- 
tance by God in the Saviour. Often, dur- 
ing his long pastorate with us, did he 
dw^ell upon the period of agony from con- 
demnation under sin, and the blessed 
deliverance he found in Christ. 

Soon after his conversion, he entered 
upon and completed without interruption 
a course of collegiate instruction in Ham- 
ilton College, Clinton, New York. 

Believing that he was called of God to 
enter the ministry, he entered upon and 
completed a course of theological instruc- 
tion in the Hamilton Theological Semi- 



180 MEMOIK OF 

nary, Madison county New York. In 
February, 1843, Iiq was ordained, and 
commenced preaching as a supply for the 
Baptist church in Durhamville, New York; 
and a few months afterward, for the Bap- 
tist church in Johnstown, New York. 

In 1844 he was called to, and accepted 
the pastorate of the Baptist church in 
Vernon, his native place. He labored 
with that church tw T o years to their com- 
plete acceptance. In October, 1846, he 
was called unanimously by the First Bap- 
tist church in Cleveland to become its 
Pastor ; which call, after much hesitation 
on his part, owing to the strenuous 
remonstrances of his people in Vernon, 
who were devotedly attached to him, and 
his ow r n diffidence as to fitness for the 
new field, he accepted, and entered upon 
his labors here on the second Sabbath 
of November, 1846. From this date until 
the day when his Saviour saw that the 
fullness of time had come for a transla- 
tion to the realms of life, through a death 



S. W. ADAMS. 181 

precious in his sight, I can tell you noth- 
ing of his life and labors with us, which 
you do not know. Yet, as friends be- 
reaved, find just in proportion to their love 
for the departed, a refreshing solace in 
recounting each well remembered evi- 
dence of his value, so may we dwell upon 
the legacy of our departed Pastor; on the 
one hand, recounting the treasured pos- 
sessions which we hold by memory, and 
on the other, those for which we hope. 
We will dwell then, in the remainder of 
this commemorative service, in the realms 
of memory, and of hope. 

It was a time of comparative feeble- 
ness to this church, that year 1846, when, 
although through previous labors and 
prayers with the Divine blessing, a good 
foundation had been laid, and many sea- 
sons of revival and special blessing en- 
joyed, yet much which since has shown 
vigorous growth, existed then only in the 
germ. 



132 MEMOIR OF 

The new pastor came a young man 
and a stranger. With great diffidence of 
himself he entered' upon the new field. 
He felt that his experience had been lim- 
ited and provincial. The West opened 
around him a horizon far wider than the 
one familiar to him in his native region. 
He was conscious of bringing to the new 
field no powers of brilliant achievement, 
no resources to insure an immediate and 
marked sensation. He felt that he was 
to take root and grow, and that in and by 
this living process, through the Divine 
blessing, all kindred growths were to be 
nourished and to thrive with him. His 
resources were unwavering faith in God 
and in his blessed Gospel, untiring fideli- 
ty of consecration to the Redeemer, un- 
faltering patience in the use of all divine- 
ly appointed means, and the steady, 
honest and prayerful efforts of a mind of 
natural vigor and harmony of endow- 
ment, enriched by well directed and ju- 
dicious culture and acquirements. With 



S. W. ADAMS. 183 

these as the basis of his endeavors and 
his hopes, he had ever before him high, 
wise and just ideals, as the standards to- 
ward which he aimed. While he ex- 
pected no rapid and brilliant results, too 
often as transient in continuance as they 
are speedy in approach, he laid out be- 
fore himself no narrow range of effort in 
the field where under God he sought io 
gird himself for his life work. Faith, un- 
feigned consecration, labor, patience and 
tireless hope, were ever in the ascendant 
in his heart, and were illustrated as the 
living means of the Divine blessing in 
his life. 4 

This recital of his qualifications, aims, 
and hopes, at the commencement of his 
pastorate, such were the persistence and 
consistency of his character, is also the 
history of that pastorate during its long 
and happy continuance clown to the end. 

The following is a summary of his life's 
labor: Number of sermons preached, in- 
cluding addresses at funerals, three thou- 



184 MEMOIR OF 

sand four hundred and ninety - three ; 
number of funerals attended, five hun- 
dred and four; number of marriages sol- 
emnized, three hundred and fifty -two; 
number baptized by him, two hundred 
and ninety-nine. Of the number of his 
baptisms seventeen were prior to his pas- 
torate with us, and two hundred and 
eighty- two while connected with this 
church. I will state the number baptized 
by him in each } T ear of his relation to us 
as pastor: In 1847, five; in 1848, three; 
in 1849, twenty -two; in 1850, ten; in 
1851, twelve ; in 1852, eleven ; in 1853, 
sixteen ; in 1854, nineteen*, in 1855, twen- 
ty-two; in 1856, eight; in 1857, four; in 
1858, eighty-five; in 1859, eight; in 1860, 
eight; in 1861, four; in 1862, three; in 
1863, thirty-one ; in 1864, eleven. 

It was his habit in his diary constantly 
to note the spiritual state of the church, 
as indicated specially by the attendance 
upon, and interest in the prayer and con- 
ference meetings. In N ovember, 1857, he 



S. W. ADAMS. 185 

notes the commencement of that remark- 
able revival which, continuing through 
1858, is so memorable throughout the 
land. The union morning prayer meet- 
ings of this period were deeply interest- 
ing to him. He also mentions an evening 
meeting in which there were seventy-five 
short exercises, forty-eight persons ad- 
dressing the assembly. This was to him 
a happy era. Sabbath after Sabbath, for 
many months, he baptized, and on the 
fourth of April, 1858, he gave the right 
hand of fellowship to forty - eight who 
united with the church, many of them 
heads of families. 

For these deeply interesting details, I 
am indebted to an admirable analysis 
of his diary, made as a labor of love 
by his surviving wife, who is still a 
beloved and most valued member of this 
church. 

During the years 1858-9, our Pastor 
wrote the memoir of Dr. Nathaniel Ken- 
drick, so long and honorably known as 

L 



186 MEMOIR OF 

a founder of the Hamilton Theological 
School, which has since grown to be Mad- 
ison University, and 'Hamilton Theologi- 
cal Seminary. 

This memoir was published by the 
American Baptist Publication Society of 
Philadelphia. It is a work of much value 
as a contribution to Baptist history, evinc- 
ing systematic and patient fidelity in the 
biographer, and should belong to every 
family in this church. While occupied 
with his pressing duties, and the labor of 
preparing this biography, I will quote 
again from the summary of Mrs. Adams. 

"Day and night witnessed his toils. 
While he neglected few of his pastoral 
duties, and filled his pulpit as usual, yet I 
never saw him in the least restless, impa- 
tient, or hurried under the mighty pres- 
sure of duties. Kind and considerate to 
every one around him, sweetly bearing 
any interruption, yet bending all his en- 
ergies to the accomplishment of his 
increased duties." 



S. W. ADAMS. 187 

"My husband's pastoral labors," con- 
tinues Mrs. Adams, tC were prosecuted with 
that systematic energy, and utter regard- 
lessness of self, which were so prominent 
in his character. His own physical dis- 
comforts would not prevent him from 
meeting with his flock, or ministering to 
them in need. It was his aim to know 
the condition of every member of his 
church, and their families, always endeav- 
oring to call upon them all once during 
each year. In this he did not always suc- 
ceed, but he improved every opportunity 
to do so. I have heard him say that two- 
thirds of the funerals he attended, were 
outside of his own charge. Many of those 
who called upon him for that service were 
outside of any church ; and he made it a 
point to call upon all such afterward, and 
invite them to the house of God ; often 
following up his calls upon them until 
they were brought into the fold of Christ. 
This, also, was his practice as to all whom 



188 MEMOIR OF 

he was called upon to marry, who were 
not christians. 

" Eternity only will reveal the many 
instances of watchful care for the souls of 
his flock, the many letters of faithful and 
loving admonition which he quietly sent, 
praying God's blessing to go with them. 
Instant in season, and out of season, he 
watched for souls. His interests were one 
with those of his dear people. Their joys 
and sorrows were his ; and after his round 
of calls, it was his invariable custom to 
remember them specially before the 
throne of Grace. Never do I remember 
an omission by him to pray for his people, 
and their loved ones, at our altar of morn- 
ing prayer." In thus quoting from Mrs. 
Adams, I am sure that I can give no testi- 
mony more authentic, or justly apprecia- 
tive. 

Mr. Adams was thrice married. First, 
in the fall of 1843, to Miss Caroline E. 
Griggs, who died in this city in April, 
1847 leaving an infant daughter, who sur- 



S. W. ADAMS. 189 

vived the mother but nineteen months. 
In January, 1819, he was again married 
to Mrs. Cordelia 0. Peck, widow of Key. 
Linus M. Peck, and daughter of Dr. 
Nathaniel Kexdrick. His second wife 
died in this city, October 7th, 1852. On 
the 9th of August, 1855, he was again 
married to Miss Augusta Hoyt, his survi- 
ving wife, to whom I have before referred, 
and who is the mother of his four survi- 
ving children, three little girls, the oldest 
seven, and an infant son, born a short 
time after the death of the father, and 
who is now doubly dear to a mother's 
heart as bearing, though in unconscious 
infancy, the honored paternal name — 
Seymour Webster Adams. 

We will endeavor now to commemor- 
ate our deceased Pastor; refreshing our 
memories by reference, with some detail, 
to his marked traits of character. 

First, as a preacher. He very seldom 
extemporized. His sermons were care- 
fully written, and evinced, without one 



190 MEMOIR OF 

exception, earnest fidelity to scriptural 
and gospel truth. Well grounded in the 
great plan of salvation, he never added 
to, or subtracted from the provisions 
of the Word of God. Christ was to him 
in all literal reality the author and 
finisher of his faith ; and the Redeemer 
was ever referred to with tireless fervor, 
as the all in all. As a writer of sermons, 
he was in style, chaste and scholarly; 
ever seeking, through pains taking effort, 
to present the truth in hand in a dress 
which would favor its reception. His 
modes of expression were less in the use 
of direct and idiomatic Saxon, than the 
more formal speech, which very often 
becomes habitual to those familiar with 
the ancient languages. 

With many, as a preacher, he was a 
special and lasting favorite. 

His unfaltering discretion in selecting 
and imparting scriptural instruction; his 
even utterance, seldom impassioned, 
never abrupt, or startling, and yet ever 



S. W. ADAMS. 191 

with pleasing animation, enabled them 
without effort, to follow the movement of 
his mind; and left a fragrance of hal- 
lowed memories as to his Sabbath minis- 
trations in the house of God, which 
others will in vain attempt to equal for 
them. By all, he was regarded as a 
preacher, sound, exenrplary, and most 
worthy of respect; yet doubtless it is 
true, that the power and permanence 
of his influence as a christian minister 
rested upon his ability as a preacher 
only as one element, among others, of 
equal, if not greater force. 

As a pastor, the shepherd of the flock, 
he had many traits in which any others, 
however excellent, will vainly hope to 
excel him. He made it a point to be 
familiarly and specially acquainted with 
all the poor of the church. He ever 
approached them with unfeigned sym- 
pathy and respect. In the perception 
and love of sterling christian excellen- 
cies in them, he seemed wholly to forget 



192 MEMOIR OF 

any want of congeniality of manner, or 
culture. He ever taught them, by his 
profound regard for what was praise- 
worthy in them, to respect themselves. 

He was the first to learn of the sick- 
ness, or affliction of any of his charge ; 
and never failed promptly to visit them, 
and to manifest the tenderest sympathy 
and solicitude. His own afflictions, sanc- 
tified through divine grace, richly qual- 
ified him to enter feelingly and with 
genuine interest into the sorrows and 
sufferings of others. Wherever he minis- 
tered at the sick bed, or in the house of 
death, he left with the mourning friends 
the memory of the most delicate, unob- 
trusive, tender, touching, yet manly 
christian sympathy, never to be forgotten 
by the bereaved. There were times when 
he was specially felicitous in his services 
at the burial of the young. His people 
vividly remember many scenes of sorrow, 
where standing beside the body of the 
early dead, amid a hushed throng of 



S. W. ADAMS. 193 

tearful kindred and friends, his voice, in 
a rich, plaintive minor key, lingering 
tenderly, recounting all the endearing 
qualities of the departed, and swaying 
and soothing with the selectest christian 
solace all hearts, seemed equal in sweet- 
ness of rythm and cadence, to some 
hallowed hymn, sung with the richest 
strains of chastened music at the burial 
of the beloved. 

In manner, he was retiring and diffident. 
Never fluent in conversation, he seldom 
led, and was never obtrusive in introduc- 
ing topics for remark. 

Conscientiously guarded as to all he 
said, not from policy, but from a faithful 
endeavor to hold fast to that which is 
good, and to promote the harmony and 
welfare of the church, he never allowed 
himself to retail unpleasant tidings. 
With habitual ingeniousness he put the 
best construction upon what others did 
and said. If any church gossip fell upon 
his ear, it was as safe from harming 



191 MEMOIR OF 

others through him, as though uttered in 
the depths of solitude. It may be said 
truly to his praise, earned by a life long 
and unswerving fidelity to the spirit of 
the gospel, — a praise as rare as it is pre- 
cious, when so well deserved, — that he 
never, even in one single instance, was 
known, at home or abroad, in his pulpit, 
or out of it, to do or say that which 
wounded, or brought reproach upon the 
cause of Christ. Well may we all honor 
and love, cherish, and emulate his blame- 
less, beautiful and saintly life. 

He dearly loved the social meetings of 
the church, and held them in the highest 
honor as among the selectest means of 
grace. He was ever punctual and faith- 
ful in attendance, and cheerful in his 
efforts to infuse animation into the exer- 
cises. In the autumn of 1849, he insti- 
tuted the young people's meeting in the 
church, which he ever attended, and 
prized, and which still continues one of 



S. W. ADAMS. 195 

the most fruitful and hopeful means of 
blessing. 

As a preacher and pastor, he was 
tender of the feelings of others, and ever 
held them in respect, never, even by 
a shadow, violating the rights of the 
youngest or feeblest of his flock. He 
never scolded, either in his sermons, or 
pastoral intercourse. While earnest and 
searching in his advocacy of the truth in 
its bearings upon the practical conduct 
of christians, he never indulged in what 
may be called " toe the mark" preaching, 
— that which prescribes what is conven- 
tional, and often arbitrary, as obligatory 
upon christians. 

I must hasten, however, in this recital. 
This reference to his qualities as a 
preacher and pastor, though greatly 
inadequate, is all that the occasion 
allows, and I close this allusion to him 
in these relations by repeating the words 
of Peter, changing the tense to apply 
them — words given for the guidance of 



196 MEMOIR OF 

the christian minister, and which, when 
spoken, you will see are luminously 
illustrative of our beloved pastor. 

He fed the flock of God among us, 
taking the oversight thereof, not by con- 
straint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, 
but of a ready mind; neither as being 
lord over God's heritage, but being an 
ensample to the flock. And now, that to 
him the chief Shepherd has appeared, we 
doubt not that he has received a crown 
of glory that fadeth not away. 

I cannot close this service, commemo- 
rative of our pastor, without brief refer- 
ence to some of his marked traits as a 
man. I have only to name them, and 
your memories, filled with the evidence, 
will instantly see them as they appeared 
in his life. 

He was a man of guileless sincerity. 
He was incapable of artifice, or dissimu- 
lation. What he said to you, he meant ; 
just that, and nothing less, or more. You 
might rely upon any assurance he gave 



S. vV. ADAMS. 197 

you with implicit confidence. He never 
deceived. He never attempted to say 
one thing and do another. His whole life, 
public and private, was one of crystal 
sincerity. 

He was a man of tireless system. His 
fixed habit was to methodize everything 
he had to do ; and he was so cheerfully 
patient of details, that all his plans as to 
lines of conduct, became literal achieve- 
ments. Every thing under his hand, fell 
quietly into order. No bustle, no confu- 
sion, no neglect. A time for everything, 
and everything at its time, and in its 
place, were his standards of action. 

He was a man of rare prudence and 
temperance. In the full spirit of the 
scriptural injunction, his moderation was 
ever known unto all. Never heated, 
never hasty, never excited, never guilty 
of any excess, (unless it was of labor,) his 
whole air and manner w T ould ever impress 
one in contact with him, whether in his 
public relations, or the privacy of the 



198 MEMOIR OF 

most intimate and familiar intercourse, 
with the conviction that constantly there 
were present to his thoughts whatsoever 
things are honest, whatsoever things are 
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatso- 
ever things are lovely, whatsoever things 
are of good report. 

He was a man of marked liberality, 
The prospect of giving to any worthy 
object was ever welcome. He never 
shunned, or sought to evade an appli- 
cation for aid. He taught his people the 
most cordial giving to all the enterprises 
of the gospel, and he always led the way 
by gifts from his narrow income of dona- 
tions himself, more liberal in ratio than 
any. One of his latest acts was the 
payment from his sick bed, of his pledge 
of one hundred dollars to our Foreign 
Mission Jubilee Fund, through means 
which he recognized as from the Lord, 
and which, when received, he joyfully 
appropriated. 



S. W. ADAMS. 1^9 

He was a man of the most cheerful and 
generous hospitality. There is no strain 
upon a minister of the gospel more severe 
than this. Weary, often, from incessant 
mental tension in their work, straight- 
ened in resources, with young families, 
and wives laden with many and wearing 
cares, they are often expected by the 
public, and not seldom by the church 
also, to keep the house of a publican, 
where every passing traveler may find 
food and shelter not only, but wdiat is 
still more costly to a loaded mind, per- 
sonal attention and entertainment. Yet 
our late pastor never failed to give 
every passing christian a welcome to his 
home; and he filled that home to them 
with happy memories. In the purest, 
truest sense, he was given to hospitality. 

Many a time he felt (for he trusted 
in scripture,) that he had entertained 
angels unawares. In all his long pasto- 
rate, there was the same kind welcome 
to the stranger. He never turned from a 



200 MEMOIR OF 

brother minister, however occupied, or 
weary, expecting some one else to offer 
him 'a home. When it came in his way 
in Providence, the welcome invitation 
was never withheld. Who knows, of his 
people, what he, and his beloved com- 
panions have, through the many years of 
their relation to us, done in this respect, 
from a high sense of christian duty? It is 
enough that the Master knows. 

He was a man of wonderful economy* 
I use the word advisedly, wonderful. 
Taken in connection with his liberality, 
and hospitality, it is so rare as to be won- 
derful, when you can truly complete the 
trinity of qualities, by adding economy. 

Many have one; some have two blend- 
ed; but how very rare, the three ! It is so 
often true that economy where it is real, 
exists to the exclusion of the rest. But 
in this case, it is literal truth that he was 
generous, as economical, and as hospitable 
as either. Neither was it any sham econ- 
omy ; but patient, vigilant and wise meth- 



S. W. ADAMS. 201 

odizing of every resource, and expense ; 
so that he was never in debt, never em- 
barrassed, never mortified by inability 
through miscalculation to meet a neces- 
sary want ; of all which, the crowning proof 
is the fact that though always generous, 
always hospitable, and always laboring 
under a low salary, with no outside 
resources except a small sum from his fath- 
er, he left to his wife and children a com- 
petence, which, though not large, is under 
the circumstances wonderful. Never 
during his long pastorate did any of his 
people hear him utter one word of com- 
plaint as to the demands upon him for 
donations, or hospitality, or the inade- 
quacy of his salary. It is due to this 
church, to say that they knew and felt all 
this, and as a body, and privately, they 
gave substantial proof of their apprecia- 
tion. 

Finally, in this enumeration, he was a 
man of rare hopefulness. There were 
transition periods in his long pastorate of 

M 



202 MEMOIR OF 

marked trial for his people, struggling as 
a church with difficulties, sometimes in 
one way, and sometimes another; yet 
always they found in him the same cheer- 
ful worker. Never desponding, ever 
hopeful, ever ready joyously" to labor 
and to wait." 

Such, in brief, though imperfectly, was 
our departed brother as a preacher — pas- 
tor — and man. I will add by way of appli- 
cation, that the retrospect is full of pre- 
cious instruction to the ministry, in 
illustrating the true resources for perma- 
nent growth and power in an under 
shepherd. Brother Adams was never in 
the modern sense, a popular preacher. He 
did not always draw crowds by fascination 
of manner, or matter, in his sermons. 
Indeed, some of his tried friends were not 
always the warmest admirers of his style 
of preaching, and modes of approaching 
and developing Christian truth. Yet I 
hazard nothing in asserting that through- 
out our land, when death removed him, 



S. W. ADAMS. 203 

there was among all preachers however 
powerful, or popular, not one who was 
more immovably rooted in the hearts of 
his people than he. Yain and futile 
would have been any effort from any 
quarter to uproot him in his field. His 
people, and he, felt that they were mar- 
ried by a life tie which God alone could 
sever. 

Again, he was a man of wide and val- 
ued influence as a Christian minister in 
this State, and throughout our churches. 
It was the influence, however, of wise, 
kind, loving, and self-denying Christian 
excellence. There may be much that is 
more brilliant, and more popular; but 
can there be any thing, more precious in 
the sight of the Lord ? 

We come now to the end. On the 
the 7th of June, 1864, upon the invitation 
of the Cleveland Branch of the Christian 
Commission, he left home, to labor as a 
delegate with the soldiers. He was 
assigned to a hospital in the vicinity of 



204 MEMOIR OF 

Washington. His journal is minutely 
kept as to his labors with the wounded, 
sick, and dying soldiers. He spared not 
himself, but day after day, he watched, 
and nursed, and ministered as a christian 
with the needy, amid suffocating heat, 
and with the air often fetid from suppu- 
rating wounds. He ministered by the 
bedside of hundreds, many of them dying ; 
and he pointed faithfully and lovingly to 
Him who is exalted to be a Prince and a 
Saviour. 

On the 6th of July, after a months labor 
he returned home, but not to rest. He 
had been ill, but with his habitual hope- 
fulness said that he was better, — indeed 
well, — so happy was he to be with his 
family and people ; and he put on the 
harness of all his accustomed duties. 
Preaching, calls, and funerals, were con- 
tinued till September 9th, when he was 
present at the last prayer meeting with 
his people. It was a covenant meeting. 
On the sabbath following September 11th, 



S. W, ADAMS. 205 

he preached in his own pulpit his last 
sermon, from Hebrews iii. 7, 8. 

Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will 
hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provo- 
cation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness. 

This sermon was repeated on the 14th, 
at Strongsville, at the bi-mouthly meeting 
of the Association. He returned home 
from Strongsville on Wednesday evening, 
the 14th of September. The next day, 
though ill with alternating chills and 
fever, he attended a funeral at the new 
cemetery, although the day was stormy. 
Returning, he was so ill as to retire to 
his room. 

The description of the final scene I can- 
not give so well as in the words of Mrs. 
Adams : " Friday, though suffering with a 
burning fever and headache, he studied, 
and wrote several letters, though he con- 
fessed inability to attend meeting in the 
evening. Not until Saturday, did he real- 
ly succumb to the disease and retire to 



206 MEMOIR OF 

Ins bed. The physician at once pronoun- 
ced his disease to be typhoid fever. 

On Sabbath morning he asked me what 
the doctor said, and when I told him he 
seemed not in the least disturbed or anx- 
ious. I asked him how he felt about being 
sick. With a sweet smile he answered, 
c I think the Lord will bring it around all 
right.' He seemed to have no anxieties, 
no preparation to make for the future; 
but to be simply awaiting God's will. He 
desired me to read to him his chapters in 
course, which I did. The Psalm for the 
day was the ninety-first : c He that dwel- 
eth in the secret place of the Most High 
shall abide under the shadow of the Al- 
mighty.' The last time but one that he 
attended family worship with us, he read 
the last chapter of Revelations. Sabbath 
forenoon he spent quietly with his eyes 
often closed ; and I knew by his whole 
appearance that he was enjoying intimate 
communion with his God. He told me 
that he had had a delightful forenoon. I 



S. W. ADAMS. 207 

wish I could convey in words some idea 
of the heavenly atmosphere of that sick 
room during my husbands last days of 
suffering. 

"Those who watched with him will 
never forget his sweetness and patience. 
There were no murmurings, no complaints, 
but frequent expressions of gratitude and 
love. His face beamed with a holy seren- 
ity and his quiet and gentle dignity of man- 
ner, never left him, even amid the wan- 
derings of delirium. And when his strong 
mind at last yielded to the power of the 
disease there Avere no excited ravings, 
but his energies seemed still to be strug- 
gling to do his life's work, laboring for 
some unconverted soul, preaching the 
blessed gospel, or giving sweet words of 
love and counsel. The last Sabbath of 
his life he knew us all — all his loved ones, 
but was unable to hold any rational con- 
versation. Yet, without any thing of the 
kind being said to him, he knew it was the 
Sabbath day. Said he, C I want you to 



208 MEMOIR OF 

bring me God's word.' I brought it and 
lie clasped it fondly in his hands, turning 
it round that he might read. His eyes 
seemed weak and I read to him a Psalm, 
which he said was precious. 

" He then made a strong effort to rise 
upon his knees for prayer. I begged him 
to desist, and clasping his hands he turned 
upon his side, and raising his eyes he 
prayed, I think literally in the words fol- 
lowing, which will ever live in my mem- 
ory : " O Lord our God ! We thank thee 
for the return of this holy day. Words 
cannot express the joy of this thy day. 
We thank thee for all the privileges that 
we enjoy after days of separation and 
sickness, and suffering. We thank thee 
for the little hope we have in Christ Jesus 
our Lord. We praise thee, O God, for all 
thy goodness. O God of all grace, bless 
thy people this day. Sanctify them — 
strengthen them — and to thy name be the 
glory and power forever, — Amen — and 
Amen.' 



S. W. ADAMS. 209 

" The two following days lie rapidly de- 
clined, and on Tuesday, September 27th, 
a little before 6 o'clock in the evening 
his spirit passed to the bosom of his Sa- 
viour and God." 

Thus ended the pastorate, and life on 
earth, of Seymour Webster Adams. I will 
not detain you now by reference to his 
burial from this sanctuary, — the solemn 
services conducted by ten felloAV pastors 
of the city, of various denominations, — 
the body, borne to the grave by ten of 
his own people. 

He is with us now onty in memory, and 
by the power of his example, as one 
whose life and death were precious in the 
sight of his Lord. I close with the words 
of dear old Goldsmith, from the " Deserted 
Tillage," — never more applicable to any, 
than to our departed pastor. 

" Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, 
And e'en his failings leaned to virtue's side; 
But in his duty prompt at every call, 
He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all ; 



210 MEMOIR. 

And as a bird each fond endearment tries 
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies, 
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, 
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way. 



' To them his heart, his love, his griefs, were given — 
But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven. 
As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, 
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm, 
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,. 
Eternal sunshine settles on its head." 



IX. 

SUCCESSOR OF DR. ADAMS. — SOWING AND REAPING. 
— CONCLUSION. 

It would seem superfluous to add more 
from any source, in relation to the life and 
labors of Dr. Adams, as a christian minis- 
ter, in addition to the preceding, yet there 
is a stand -point from which these have 
not yet been viewed — that of the succes- 
sor of Dr. Adams. 

One year from the day when the funeral 
of the deceased Pastor took place, Rev. 
ArGrsTus H. Strong, succeeded to the va- 
cant pastorate. His call w^as attended 
with equal caution, care, and unanimity 
to thatwdiich characterized the invitation 
extended to his predecessor. 

One year of eminently faithful and suc- 
cessful labors among his people has 



212 MEMOIR OF 

enabled the successor to speak of the 
labors of the predecessor as no one else 
can, for no one has had like opportunity, 
nor is any other one enabled to judge 
from a similar stand-point. 

The writer is satisfied that his duty 
would not be fully performed, if he did 
not avail himself of the peculiar advan- 
tage derived from this experience. 

On the Sabbath which succeeded the 
€lose of his first year's pastorate, Rev. Mr. 
Strong spoke in relation to his predeces- 
sor, under the head of " The Sower and the 
Reaper." 

So appropriate were his remarks on 
that occasion, that the closing of this 
Memoir would be incomplete without 
them. Then how much will it add to the 
interest of these pages in the minds of the 
young and those not personally acquaint- 
ed with Dr. Adams, that very much that is 
herein contained concerning him, is more 
than verified by the present Pastor. 
These remarks are here given. 



S. W. ADAMS. 213 

THE SOWER AND THE REAPER. 

BY REV. AUGUSTUS H. STRONG. 

Christ bound together in oneness of 
work and oneness of joy all the ages and 
all the laborers of his church. He sends 
the sower as well as the reaper, — the work 
of the one is as precious as that of the 
other, — the final triumph belongs to both. 
While he cheers the reapers in their toil 
by the thought of the grandeur of their 
work and the glorious fruit they gather 
in, he at the same time chastens their 
exultation by the thought that all their 
success is due to the labor of other pa- 
tient souls who prepared the way for them, 
and who now from happier climes look 
down upon the harvest, as sharers in the 
praise and joy. u And herein," says 
Christ, "is that saying true, One soweth 
and another reapeth. I sent you to reap 
that whereon ye bestowed no labor. Oth- 
er men labored and ye are entered into 
their labors." 



214: MEMOIR OF 

Who of us appreciates our obligation 
to the past ? We are heirs not merely of 
our immediate ancestry, but of all the 
centuries that have gone. All their 
achievements in the arts, in government, 
in civilization, have become our posses- 
sion. We have the world's experience 
behind us. This progress of the race, 
whose blessings we reap to-day, has been 
secured only by the long persistent effort 
of the multitude of refined, inventive, 
heroic, freedom-loving spirits who have 
sown seed for the future while yet we 
had no being. And how much truer in 
the religious sphere, that all our worth 
and work for God and man, depends on 
what others have done and suffered before 
us ! Let us remember that all our treas- 
ures of knowledge and experience and 
example are the results of slow accumu- 
lations, and not one coin of them all but 
is stained with precious sweat and blood. 

Honor, then, to the sowers ! Human 
nature will lose all claim to honor, when 



S. W. ADAMS. 215 

it ceases to honor them. Let due honor 
be given to those who nobly fought and 
died in defence of national unity and free 
government. Generation shall rise after 
generation to call them blessed, for all 
the future generations shall reap the fruits 
of the seed they sowed and watered with 
their blood. But let us never forget that 
there are other heroes than those of war, 
— heroes who without the din and excite- 
ment of battle to nerve them, have suf- 
fered and toiled alone for others 7 good. 
In school houses and sick rooms, amid 
the pressure of household cares or in the 
face of great temptation, these witnesses 
for the truth have still continued to give 
their testimony, — have sought to know 
God's will and then to teach it to others. 
And in the number whom God counts 
heroes and heroines, will be found at last 
many fathers, and mothers, and teachers, 
and pastors, and humble, self-denying 
workers for the Master in every sphere, 
whom the world has never recognized. 



216 



MEMOIR OF 



but of whom the world was not worthy. 
Eternal honor to their names and mem- 
ories ! 

But not the honor of words only. We 
can never X3ay our debt thus. We can- 
only pay it, by following their example 
and laboring ourselves for others and for 
the great future. Let us, then, ourselves 
be sowers. The future is to be influenced 
by us, as we have been influenced by the 
past. There is a system, called fagging, in 
the great English schools, which compels 
the younger students to perform all sorts 
of menial service for the older. Our Mil- 
itary Academy at West Point, and some 
of our colleges, still perpetuate a yearly 
set of outrages and indignities upon those 
who have lately entered their walls. 
Those who are thus maltreated have no 
redress — their only consolation is to treat 
in the same manner those who come after 
them. Something of this spirit one meets 
occasionally in the world. The narrow- 
minded man who had few advantages in 



S. W. ADAMS. 217 

his youth declares that what was good 
enough for him, is good enough for his 
children. But does not a large heart say 
on the other hand: "I suffered in my 
youth from lack of opportunities. I have 
not made of myself what I might, had I 
been born in more favoring circumstances. 
But my boy shall not suffer so ! He shall 
lack none of the means of education and 
self-development. He shall be a broader 
and better man than I V Now let a man 
enlarge the scope of his sympathies till 
they take in not his own family merely, 
but the whole generation just rising to 
enter upon life ; let him say : " God help- 
ing me, this coming generation shall have 
better provision for its wants than I 
had. My example, my influence, my 
wealth shall tell for human progress and 
the bettering of human conditions." Take 
Peabody, setting up his lodging houses for 
the London poor, or his libraries for the 
young readers of his native town. Hun- 
dreds of thousands of solid money he has 



218 MEMOIR OF 

invested in these works of benevolence ; 
but what other investment that men can 
make yields so large an interest as this ? 

I have passed through the streets of 
English Oxford, where one may walk for 
hours under the shadows of venerable 
piles, consecrated to secular and sacred 
learning, and munificently endowed in 
centuries gone by, by men whose very 
bones are now turned to dust. These 
ancient colleges of Oxford have never 
ceased since then to send forth streams of 
light and truth throughout the British em- 
pire and the world. The bones of the ben- 
efactors have turned to dust, but the influ- 
ence of the benefactors lives and will ex- 
tend in ever widening circles till the last 
great day. What a magnificent privilege 
for a human being to have granted him by 
the Almighty — the privilege of setting in 
motion a current of pure and holy influ- 
ence, which shall gladden and fertilize all 
the ages to come ! And yet this honor, 
greater than that of the conqueror or the 



S. W. ADAMS. 219 

monarch, may belong to each of us. We 
may not have the privilege or the ability 
to consecrate a million of dollars to some 
great work of benevolence, but every one 
of us can consecrate far more than we 
do ; every one of us either by our money 
or our words or our example, can sow 
some seed for the far future, can set some 
current running, however small, that 
shall refresh thirsty souls long after we 
are gone, and that shall bring honor to 
our names on earth and the approval of 
God in heaven. 

Not the great generals only are honored, 
but each private soldier that fights well, 
has a share in the praise and triumph of 
victory. The Spanish peasant as he eats 
fruit by the wayside in his journeyings, 
always plants the seed upon the spot, that 
some future traveler may perchance en- 
joy the fruit, We too may scatter many 
a little word by the wayside, which will 
yield a richer harvest than we ever have 
dreamed of. For there is this about 



220 MEMOIR OF 

words spoken in the name of Christ, for 
the good of souls. The Spirit who inspires 
them, suffers them not to return unto 
Him void, but makes them accomplish 
something for the world. Throw a little 
pebble down the steep declivity of a 
mountain — striking another pebble, it 
sets that rolling, and the two together set 
in motion yet a third, and these increas- 
ing in velocity move some larger stone, 
and so on and on they go, gathering num- 
bers and momentum, till the whole moun- 
tain-side seems alive with the rolling, 
impetuous masses which your one pebble 
has started on their course. So it is often 
with one sin — it brings a thousand in its 
track. So it is with one holy word spoken 
for Christ — it brings a thousand conse- 
quences of good in its train — and these 
go on augmenting in number and power 
till the judgment daj r . Christian sowing 
is better than the world's — for the seed of 
God never dies — it will bring forth fruit 
though we do not live to see it — and the 



S. W. ADAMS. 221 

little labor and pains expended in its 
planting will be far more than compen- 
sated by the abundance of the final har- 
vest. 

Let the sowers then rejoice even while 
they sow. Let the mother burdened with 
her cares, cheer her soul]with the thought 
that the child of so many prayers and 
tears, may yet live to be transformed by 
her influence, and then to transmit that 
influence as a sacred legacy to those who 
shall come after him, and so down to the 
latest generation. Let the teacher be 
content, if God will, that all his labor 
should go toward storing the minds of his 
scholars with truth which may lie unused 
for years, since, after years have passed, 
the truth in those minds, suddenly recall- 
ed to memory, may be the only means, and 
the effectual means, in God's hands, of 
saving the soul from eternal ruin. And let 
the pastor still have faith, though in the 
present his word may seem to vanish into 
nothingness the moment it is uttered. It 



222 MEMOIR OF 

may be only hidden in the crevices of the 
soul, waiting the dews from heaven to 
make it germinate and bring forth fruit. 

It seems as if no day were more appro- 
priate for the consideration of this subject 
than the present. It is in some sort 
a memorial day. One year ago my 
labors for this church began — two years 
ago to-day, we might say, the labors of 
another and more faithful servant of 
Christ were ended. A year of happy in- 
gathering has just passed — but many 
years of faithful sowing preceded, and 
alone made the reaping possible. Days 
of commemoration are valuable remind- 
ers of our obligation to the departed ; this 
day may well bring to mind the name and 
memory of one, whose services can never 
be forgotten while those live who knew 
him, — whose influence will never be lost 
though all who knew him should vanish 
from the earth. We do not worship our 
benefactors, as Comte, the French philos- 
opher would have us ; but the thought of 






S. W. ADAMS. 223 

them on these anniversary days may help 
us the better to worship God who gave 
them to us. Look hack then, two years, 
dear members of this flock, — recall the 
bier, and pall, and insignia of mourning, 
and the weeping crowd that followed in 
long procession, as the mortal remains of 
Dr. Adams were conveyed slowly to the 
tomb. Look through the months that 
have passed since then, and say whether 
God's dead servant does not still live, with 
a power and influence as great as that 
which he possessed before he died. How 
perfectly his life-career and his blessed 
death illustrate this morning's theme ! 
Unacquainted as I unhappily was with 
him whom you all loved, I can add noth- 
ing to your knowledge of him. But this 
I can say as his successor — this no one 
else can say as well as I — that on every 
hand, to this day, I can see the power of his 
life and example. He still lives in the love 
of this church. In family after family his 
name is a household word, his portrait is 



224 MEMOIR OF 

a reminder of duty, his memory is cher- 
ished with a tender affqction as precious as 
it is rare. Time is the great consoler, and 
the wounds that were once so painful are 
bound up now — but time is the great 
revealer too, and many features of that 
holy, discreet, self-sacrificing life are more 
clear to you now, than they were in the 
darkness of your first affliction. Little by 
little the mental image of the departed 
pastor has become rounded and complete 
— little by little it has assumed distinct- 
ness and firmness of outline ; and over it 
all rests now the glow and halo with 
which memory clothes the picture of a 
departed friend. If he had faults, he 
seems now to have had none — all the 
good lives still, but the imperfections 
have sunk forever out of sight. You 
thought you never knew his worth till the 
day he was taken from you, — but you 
know his worth still better now, than you 
did when you stood by his coffin. And I 
testify to-day that these intervening years 






S. W. ADAMS. 225 

have only added to the appreciative love 
and sacred reverence with which this 
church holds fast his memory. 

But that is not all — that were compara- 
tively little — for mere human emotions 
and regards are but secondary proof that 
he who causes them was a man of power. 
There is another proof that outweighs all 
these — and this, too, I have a right to 
speak of as none other has. As his suc- 
cessor, I can testify that this church bears 
the impress of Dr. Adams, in its faithful- 
ness of Christian work, its unity of Chris- 
tian love, its simplicity of Christian char- 
acter. All these belonged to him in a 
most eminent degree ; none more rigid 
and swift in answering every call of duty, 
— none more full of the peace-making 
spirit, — none more utterly true and single- 
hearted than he. And the church over 
which he presided for so many years, has 
come to bear these same characteristics 
in some degree. As I go from house to 
house among its members and see the 



226 MEMOIR OF 

portrait of my predecessor upon the walls^ 
it is matter of thankfulness to me that so 
faithful a sower went before me and pre- 
pared my way, giving me a church that 
partakes somewhat of the qualities of his 
true and faithful heart. And I am thank- 
ful too, that as the physical forces of the 
universe, though transmuted into many 
varying forms, are never lost, so moral 
forces endure and do their work. His in- 
fluence still remains, and will remain to 
help and cheer me and all who shall come 
after me in this sacred office. Being dead 
he yet speaketh. The time may indeed 
come, in the long procession of the years, 
when his name shall cease from human 
lips — but the currents of influence he set 
in motion shall never cease to flow — 
many a soul shall even then as we be- 
lieve be born into God's kingdom as the 
unconscious result of his labors and the 
answer to his prayers. And as one reaper 
after another gathers in the sheaves, it is 
not too much to believe that his joy in 



S. W. ADAMS. 227 

heaven will increase — for "he that sow- 
eth and he that reapeth shall rejoice to- 
gether." How great the joy then at the 
last, when all the fruits of all his labors, 
even to the end of time, shall be gathered 
in to the heavenly garners, and the sowers 
and the reapers too, shall lay them all at 
the feet of Christ, the Lord of the har- 
vest, and the King of souls ! 

You have had the teaching and example 
of a faithful Pastor. Be grateful for these. 
Think not that they are common bless- 
ings, for they are among the greatest of 
God's gifts. To have our ideal of Chris- 
tian life exalted by the sight of a beauti- 
ful character, is a priceless boon, but it 
involves also a solemn responsibility. 
Remember that for this means of grace 
you must render your account. Have 
you properly improved it? Have you 
obeyed the instructions of that departed 
messenger of God? Have you followed 
his example? He sowed the good seed 
persistently and unsparingly, — has it 



228 MEMOIR OF 

sprung up ? Have you reaped a harvest 
therefrom? Have yo.u gathered fruit in 
your own lives for God? He loved your 
souls and strove for your good. Have 
his labors been crowned with success? 
Ah, it is a fearful thing for any to resist 
for years the influence of a faithful Pas- 
tor's life — and then to remain unmoved 
even by that Pastor's death ! Yet some 
such there are, I fear, even in this congre- 
gation, to whom all the public addresses 
and private counsels of God's servant 
were unmeaning words. Still, it was God's 
seed he sowed — for the final issue not 
he but you are responsible. Suffer not 
this sowing of years to be in vain; but 
even after this long delay, give him new 
cause for rejoicing, that you too have be- 
gun to gather fruit unto life eternal. 
Some such rejoicings have already been 
his. But from year to year his rejoicing 
shall grow in breadth and intensity, and 
only the ages of eternity shall unfold the 
full grandeur of the declaration : " Blessed 



S. W. ADAMS. 229 

are the dead who die in the Lord, for they 
rest from their labors and their works do 
follow them." 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

BY THE EDITOR. 

When this work was undertaken, it was 
not expected that it would be so extend- 
ed as^ it now appears. In preparing the 
first prefatory note, it was contemplated 
that the memoir would be very brief, but 
after careful consideration, it was thought 
that to enlarge it and have it embrace 
a somewhat wider range in its object, 
would more than repay the additional 
labor and expense bestowed. Conse- 
quently the prefatory note was laid aside 
and the " Introductory remarks " substi- 
tuted. 

It is already apparent, that the object 
has been to benefit several classes. 



230 MEMOIR OF 

1st. The young generally, by setting 
before them the necessity of a sound 
morality, of a rigid adherence to right 
principles, of activity and energy, mental 
and physical, and perseverance, which 
overcomes almost all obstacles in the way 
of " success in life." 

2d. All classes of persons, especially 
the young, by persuading them to take 
an unswerving stand, not only on the side 
of virtue, but religion. 

3d. The Christian ministry — especially 
those contemplating entering into the 
sacred office, and those who have already 
entered the ministry, but whose experi- 
ence has been brief. It has also been 
incidental in connection with this to set 
forth the confidence and affection that 
existed between this Pastor and his 
brethren, as a memory to be cherished, 
andas worthy of imitation. 

4th. Christians generally, and espe- 
cially those of Dr. Adams, late charge, by 
carefully reminding them of the words 



S. W. ADAMS. 



231 



and example of the deceased, and thereby 
inspiring them to greater activity and 
usefulness in the Masters service. 

Precious as the memory of our friend is, 
it has not been the leading object of this 
Memoir to erect a monument to his mem- 
ory — but if this work shall tend to that 
end, it will repay for all the toil in this 
service. There is also another object 
which has been incidental, — that is, to 
give a brief history of the First Baptist 
Church of Cleveland. 

This, it will be seen, was inseparable 
from the Memoir, as the long pastorate of 
Dr. Adams over a comparatively young 
church, necessarily involved it. 

This, to many, will be a matter of in- 
terest. 

How well the work has been performed, 
is left for the reader to judge. 

The writer acknowledges to great par- 
tiality towards the deceased Pastor while 
living, and that his relations to him were 
intimate and confidential. 



232 MEMOIR OF 

It is partly for this reason that in the 
main, the evidence of Dr. Adams' worth, 
influence and usefulness, have been 
sought outside of the individual knowl- 
edge of the writer, and very much of it 
has been derived outside of the late Pas- 
tor's own church or denomination. Be- 
cause this evidence has been so sought 
and obtained, it certainly will not be pre- 
sumptuous to urge the reader carefully 
to consider what is contained herein, and 
the character and example described. 

What encouragement will it be to every 
virtuous young man, struggling against 
a distrust of his own abilities and powers, 
not favored " by fortune" with the influ- 
ence of " the great ones" of this world to 
help him on, nor yet favored with those 
gifts of nature that win at once the way 
to favor and success, to contemplate the 
exanrple, and study carefully the life of 
Seymour W. Adams from boyhood to the 
time when his work on earth was ended. 
Will not the language of his life as well 



S. W. ADAMS. 233 

as his words be, " By integrity, energetic 
industry, and perseverance you may ob- 
tain the riches and honors of this life ; by 
superadding to these the character of true 
Christian discipleship, you may obtain 
the riches of eternal life; and whether 
you gain the former or not, do not fail io 
obtain the latter?" 

Is not the language of his life to all who 
have observed it, and to all who read 
what is herein testified of him, "Live not 
for the present moment, but live with 
reference to the whole duration of your 
being — peril not that which is eternal for 
the enjoyment of that which is merely 
temporal ?" 

The writer claims for the deceased Pas- 
tor, that from the commencement of his 
studies with reference to the ministry, 
his whole life is calculated to encourage 
those contemplating, or already in the 
pastoral relation. During the period of 
his pastorate in Cleveland, the churches 

of " city and country" were more or less 
o 



231 MEMOIR OF 

agitated on the question of popular gifts 
and sensation preaching. But with him, 
however the tide drifted about, or the 
storms swept around, he remained firm, 
and pursued steadily on, in his course, as 
though everything was quiet as a summer 
evening — and this he did for almost a 
score of years, — until he was the oldest 
settled pastor in Ohio, of his own denomi- 
nation, and being the oldest by far of any 
denomination in Cleveland — leaving his 
own church among the leading Baptist 
churches of the Union, and also two other 
promising and flourishing ones in Cleve- 
land, the offspring of his church, together 
with two missionary stations and chapels. 
How little, comparatively, could he 
have accomplished, if he had attempted 
to build up churches upon the unsubstan- 
tial basis of mere popular or sensation 
preaching? Then again — how did this 
quiet, unobtrusive, but firm and steady 
course win the affections of his people 
and of all with whom he was accustomed 



S. W. ADAMS. 235 

to mingle % And though the members of 
his flock, and the writer in common with 
others, have much to regret, because they 
did not support and encourage their Pas- 
tor as they should, yet how hallowed and 
sacred to them is the remembrance of what 
he was, and what he did, and how all this 
created an indissoluble union which death 
only could separate. Let there be such 
reciprocal affection between church and 
pastor, and in more cases than at present 
will the pastoral relation prove alike per- 
manent. 

How consoling should the thought now 
be, that when, as we haye before seen, 
this pastor had been left without com- 
panion or child, the church re-assured 
him of their confidence and loye, by re- 
affirming the call made to him six years 
before, and substantially confirming him 
in the pastorate for life. 

As a summary in relation to Dr. Adams 
as a preacher, the writer would refer to 
his sermons and sketches of sermons 



236 MEMOIR OF 

given herein ; and would add, that as to 
manner and matter as a whole, it is his 
firm conviction, that very few of those 
standing in the first rank of the minis- 
try equal him, and fewer still surpass 
him. 

It has been said in these remarks that 
one object of this memoir was to benefi 
all Christians, especially those of Dr. 
Adams' late charge. That anything like a 
faithful record of him will have that effect, 
cannot be doubted. In the language of 
Rev. Dr. Goodrich at his funeral, "It 
is a great loss to us all to lose such a 
man, such a Christian minister, but to 
his congregation the loss surpasses all 
present estimate. You will feel it, my 
friends, for many years to come. Even 
when his place in this pulpit is supplied, 
and your affections are cordially given to 
some other pastor, the memory of brother 
Adams will linger in your hearts." 

Passing over the effect the Memoir 
should have on others, if a faithful one, 



S. W. ADAMS. . 237 

what effect should it have upon " those of 
Dr. Adams' late charger' 

Their hearts are already u cordially 
given to some other pastor," and one 
equally worthy and faithful; and what 
effect should it have, but to make them 
all cordial and earnest co-workers with 
the present, even more than with the 
former pastor? 

But it is time to bid adieu to this 
subject. How well the work has been 
performed is left for those to judge who 
may read these pages. The writer has 
endeavored to present a faithful Memoir 
of his pastor and friend, and now leaves 
it to be passed upon by others. 

Several classes of persons have been re- 
ferred to in these " concluding remarks," 
but if the deceased pastor himself could 
speak, would he not say to all, " I beseech 
you, by the mercies of God, that ye pre- 
sent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, 
acceptable unto God, which is your rea- 
sonable service ?" 






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